“ Joyful through

Tribulation”James 1:2-3

Trials and Joy…•There are five different topics in verses 2-8; we will look at them all individually•Trials or Temptations•Perseverance or Patience (Endurance)•Wisdom, Prayer, and Faith•How we deal with circumstances of life directly reflects our individual spiritual maturity•Joy in Tribulation isn’t giggling while the house burns down…

“2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

James 1:2-3, NASB

A. Promises of God•Lets start off with our weekly Greek lesson•Peirasmos– translated ‘trial’ and ‘temptation’-- same word– defined as “a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline, or provocation); by implication adversity: temptation, X try

A. Promises of God•Lets start off with our weekly Greek lesson•Peirasmos– translated ‘trial’ and ‘temptation’-- same word– defined as “a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline, or provocation); by implication adversity: temptation, X try•So– When God uses trials to train us, Satan tempts us while we are in the midst of the trial•When Satan tempts, God uses it as the means to strengthen character

A. Promises of God•These verses give us simple promises from God•Joshua 1:5 “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”•Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ ”

A. Promises of God•The following verses tell us to rejoice in trials, persecutions, suffering– because the endurance of these, proves our faith•1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

A. Promises of God•Romans 5:3-5 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”•Peter called tribulation precious•Paul called it glorious

B. Optimism vs. Pessimism•We can put people in 2 categories•Optimists tend to look at things too lightly, but their character thinks “things could have been much worse, but all will be better from now on”•A pessimist is very careful, looking at all the angles of every situation– the downside is they always find the downside!

C. Biblical Examples of Character…1. Joseph• Joseph helped himself to get into trouble by showing off his coat of many colors made by his dad, Jacob. Sold into slavery; ended up at Potiphar’s, Pharaoh’s guard captain, falsely accused as a rapist; thrown into prison; forgotten by a friend he’d helped, yet he did not lose heart and kept his faith in God. The reward was amazing! Pharaoh’s number 1!

C. Biblical Examples of Character…2. Job• Job had everything– the Bill Gates of his day. God lifted His protection to let Satan test him, and he lost everything except his wife. But he did not lose heart, because in his spiritual maturity, he knew God was bigger than his circumstances. Job simply said, “Naked I came in…” The reward? All things restored tenfold. I wish He didn’t do things this way but…

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

Psalm 139:6, NASB

D. Be a careful Optimist…•I believe he wants us to look for the good of all situation, but carefully•What do I mean? Don’t assume the worst in bad situations, trust God, and look for what He may be teaching you • J Vern McGee said this, “There is more immaturity in the main sanctuary of the church than in the nursery. The immature babies in the nursery are cute, but the immature Christians in the sanctuary are not cute, unless you are a new born Christian.”

“2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials...”

James 1:2-3, NASB

“2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials...”

James 1:2-3, NASB

Take Home!1.God uses our trials to

“grow us up” in His ways•Do you know the difference between Caribbean palm trees and ours in southern California?

“ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB

Take Home!1.God uses our trials to

“grow us up” in His ways•Do you know the difference between Caribbean palm trees and ours in southern California?

2.Trials are part of every Believers’ Required Curriculum