Joy in Tribulation

Faith IRL - Part 1 James 1:1-8 #jesus #God #christian #christianity #church #sermon #faith #scripture #Bible #njchurch #unionnjchurch #Crossroads Join us Sunday morning LIVE @ 9AM & 11 AM (Summer @ 10AM) If you would like to give to our church, visit https://ccfou.churchcenter.com/giving Sermon Notes - James was the very first letter to the church written between 4-50AD · If your New Testament was in chronological order, James would be first, it was written before Paul’s epistles. Written by James, the half-brother of Jesus. They shared the same mother but James’ father was Joseph. In Matthew 13:55 we learn that Jesus had 4 brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. Jesus also had several sisters, but we aren’t sure what their names were or how many. John 7:5 says that even Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe that He was the Messiah · The theme of James is, so you’re a Christian, great! What are you going to do about it? Genuine faith produces genuine proof, this is why the series is called Faith in real life. It’s time to grow up as Christians, we have to become more mature in our faith V1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ · A servant of God, Greek: Doulos meaning bondservant. Written to the 12 tribes scattered among the nations. The Jews were dispersed throughout Asia Minor and this letter was read in churches to help them understand Christian living. These Jews were suffering and living in poverty and ostracized by the community. V2 Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds · This is a mathematical approach to trials: estimate and count it joy. Step away from your emotions for a moment and look at what God is doing here and count it all joy. This trial is not a curse or a punishment, it’s not the result of a bad God, but of a fallen world. James is saying, don’t fold, don’t quit, keep pressing on. James is saying, God is never going to waste your suffering, He has a plan for it in your life. V3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance · Romans 5:3, we glory in our suffering because God is producing perseverance, character, and hope in our lives. Charles Spurgeon said, “I have looked back to times of trial with a kind of longing, not to have them return, but to feel the strength of God as I have felt it then, to feel the power of faith, as I have felt it then, to hang upon God's powerful arm as l hung upon it then, and to see God at work as I saw him then." · Perseverance comes from the Greek word hupomeno, it means to remain and endure, to not run away. It is the same endurance that it takes to run a marathon. Spurgeon said, this perseverance is how the snail reached the ark. Yes it hurts, yes you’re getting tired, yes you want to give up, but, hupomeno, keep going, keep pressing forward. It means steadfast endurance, when the winds and waves are crashing on you, but you keep moving forward God uses trials to redirect our lives and get our attention: Example Jonah avoiding Nineveh · God uses trials to remove what doesn’t belong in our lives: Example Daniel 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The furnace burned away what bound them. V4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything · There is no shortcut to maturity, if you want to grow, you have to be tested. We are all going to experience trials in our lives and it’s the moment when God gets His hands on you. God is the potter and you are the clay, He’s molding you and shaping you, yes it hurts, but hupomeno: embrace the pain, keep going V5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault · Proverbs 4:5-7, Chase after wisdom and she will protect you, love her and she will watch over you, get wisdom at any cost. James is saying to ask for wisdom in the context of when we are facing trials. When we are going through hard times, that’s when we have the most questions and need wisdom the most. This is the moment you turn to God and say, what are you up to here in my life? What are you trying to accomplish? Hebrews 12:1 says, since we are surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and run with perseverance, or hupomeno · Challenge: Check in with someone who you know is struggling this week and ask them how you can be praying for them. We need to make sure we are all moving forward together!