TRIALS IN CHRISTIAN LIFE
Introduction: Today, let us study
about the trials that Christians must go through in this life. We will
study the reason for trials, how we should act through them and the
blessings that come with them. The people who James wrote to in his
epistle were Jews who had become Christians. The Christians in that day
suffered many persecutions. They were being persecuted by the Jews
who had refused to accept Christ. They were also being persecuted by
the Roman Government. So James writes from his heart words of
instruction as well as encouragement.
Text : James 1:1-4
I. RIGHT ATTITUDE :
When trials come to us we should have the right attitude about them. God is teaching us to expect trials in our
lives. It does not say if we fall into trails, it says when we fall into
trials. We will all at certain times in our lives go through trials.
A. Jesus told His disciples “In the world ye shall have
tribulation”. Paul taught that
“we must go through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God”.
Some trials we face simply because we are human. We will have sicknesses,
accidents and disappointments at certain times. Other trials happen to us
because we are Christians. Satan fights against us and the world opposes
us.
B. Verse 2 says that we
should “count it all joy” when we fall into temptations. The word "count" is a verb in the past
tense, which signifies that this joy comes after the trial. James is not saying that we should enjoy
trials or that trials are joyful. “No chastening for the present seems to be
joyous, but grievous” (Hebrews 12:11). Jesus looked beyond His suffering.
In Hebrews 12:2 Did Jesus count the cross a joy? No, but thinking
ahead, he thought past the trial of the cross and endured it. The word
"count" means to evaluate. Paul used this word several times in
Philippians chapter 3. When he became a Christian he evaluated his life
and changed his priorities. He said “what things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ.” The things that were important to him became as
garbage because of his relationship to Christ. When we face trials we must
evaluate them and think about what God is doing for us. Our view of life
will determine how we evaluate our trials. If we are more concerned about
comfort than being conformed into the image of Christ then the trials will upset
us. If we value the physical more than the spiritual then we will not be able
to “count it all joy”. If we only live for the present and forget the future
then the trials will not make us better, they will make us bitter.
II. PURPOSE :
When trials come to us we should understand that God has a purpose for them. V.
3 says “the trying of your faith works patience”. Faith is always tested. When
God called Abraham to live by faith, He tested him in order to increase his
faith. God always tests us to make us better.
A. We all know
that the trials of life are real.
We also know that many of the trials we face are painful. When you have to deal
with physical disease it hurts. When you have financial burdens they are
painful. When we go through emotional temptations and trials there is no joy in
it. But we should remember in the midst of our trials that there is someone in the fire with us. He will not allow
the fire to destroy us, but he will use its heat to purify and strengthen us.
Iron can only become steel when it is heated in a melting fire so that the
impurities can be removed. Then it can be shaped by the steelworker's hands.
B. It is the
same in human life. God
allowed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to pass through the fire and they were
better because of it. They told king Nebuchadnezer that they would not worship
the image that he made. He became very angry and told his soldiers to throw
them into the fiery furnace. But as he watched them he saw someone in there
with them. He said that the fourth person looked like the son of God. God was
with them in the fire protecting them. Then Nebuchadnezer made a decree that
every people and nations that spoke against the true God would be cut in
pieces. Through that trial God glorified His name and was a testimony to king
Nebuchadnezer. So we need to understand that God has a purpose in trials.
Daniel had a big trial, he was thrown into a lions den. Paul had to live with a
thorn in the flesh. Trials test and prove us. Weaknesses are turned into
strengths and trials are turned into triumphs.
C. James says
we should count it joy when we have trouble and are sad. This seems ridiculous, but when we understand God’s
purpose it makes sense. “The trial of your faith works patience” God uses the
trials in our lives to mature us. God wants to have patience and endurance. He
want us to be able to keep going when things are difficult. Trials produce
patience. The word patience here means the ability to persevere in spite
of the suffering and difficulties that we face.
D. God wants
to make us patient because that is the key to every other blessing. When believers learns to wait on the Lord, then God
can do great things for them. The only way God can build patience and Christian
character in our lives is through trials. Patience cannot be obtained by
reading a book or listening to a sermon. We must go through
the difficulties of life, trust God, and obey Him. The result will be patience
and character. This is how we can face trials joyfully. We understand what the
trials will do for us and we know that they will bring glory to God. Reading
the Bible also helps us to understand trials. When we read about Abraham,
Joseph, Moses and others we realize that God has a purpose in trials. God
achieves His purposes as we trust Him.
III. GOD WORKS :
When trials come we must give God permission to work in our lives. James 1:4
says “But let patience have her perfect work”. God has given us all a free will
and He will not force us to obey him. We must allow God to work in our lives.
God cannot build our character without our help. If we resist Him He will
chasten us. If we submit to Him then He can accomplish His work. God's work is
to make us mature and complete.
A. Paul told of three works that are involved in the complete Christian life.. First there is the work that God does for us. That work is salvation. The Bible teaches “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Ephesians 2 says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. Christ completed the work of salvation for us on the cross. Because of God’s love for man he offers salvation to all. God offers salvation not because man deserves it but because of His grace. Man is a sinner and deserves punishment for that sin. God offers salvation as a free gift to whosoever will receive Him. Second is the work that God does in us. God sets us apart and and teaches us how to live holy life and a life surrendered to Him. This work is known as sanctification. God builds our character and we become more like Christ. The third work is what God does through us. This is our service. God created us in Christ Jesus to do good works.
B. God builds character before He calls us to service. He must work in us before He can work through us. But God cannot work in us without our consent. We must have a surrendered will. The mature person does not argue with God’s will. He accepts it willingly and obeys it joyfully. If we go through trials without a surrendered will we will be more like immature children than mature adults.
C. The apostle Paul learned how to rejoice in his
trials. He understood their purpose. Paul said that he had a thorn in
the flesh. He prayed to God 3 times and asked Him to take it away. Then the
Lord came to him. He said “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness” Then Paul said “Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me
Conclusion: We don’t have to look
for trials and temptations in life for they are all around us. We should
remember that God is in control of everything and sometimes He allows us to go
through trials. He has a purpose for each trial that we go through. God’s
purpose is to teach us patience and to build our character that we may be
perfect and entire wanting nothing. We should try our best to
live a holy life and endure every temptation because we love God. If we endure
through our trials we will grow spiritually and God will bless us.
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