TRIALS  OF FAITH                 JAMES 1:1-12

You know, my faith is one that admits some doubt.  Barack Obama

But is doubting faith true faith? What does James say?

TWO JAMES' in the Bible  

James, brother of John and

this one who was the brother of Jesus. He was also known as “Old Camel Knees” because prayer brought about calloused knee. He was the leader of the church in Jerusalem

EPISTLE OF JAMES

Even though James stayed mainly in Jerusalem, his epistle was addressed to Jewish Christians scattered abroad

While some believe James is teaching more about works than faith, in reality the letter deals with the main theme of how FAITH WORKS in our lives

In the 108 verses, there are references to 22 books of the Old Testament and at least 15 to Christ’s teachings of The Sermon on the Mount

REASON FOR TRIALS   REQUEST IN TRIALS   RESULT OF TRIALS

1 REASON FOR TRIALS  (1 - 4)

Tempted= tested (peirasmos) “a proving”

These "temptations" are trials given by God for our betterment.

James presents the outcome, and then builds the case.

JOY: not in sense of being happy about trials but in knowing there is a purpose in them...Personalized for us

Faith that can’t be tested can’t be proven

Patience builders…

Patience: ability to wait upon Lord..    Bear trials without murmuring...

Proving of our faith provides the fruit of patience.

Perfect  teleios  Brought to an end.

Need full armor of God. Eph 6:11, 13-17

BIBLICAL TRIALS OF FAITH

Joseph: Sold into slavery; Falsely accused of a crime

Moses: Trials of enduring complaining and whining as well as constant threats

Naomi: Lost her husband and both sons ; widowed in a strange land, but not alone

Job: Lost family, possessions, wealth, health

David: Hunted by Saul; Hated by Philistines; Hounded by Absalom

Jeremiah: Persecuted for his faith & message


2   REQUEST IN TRIALS (5-8)  

• “Lord, how can I get through this?”

• Needing wisdom on how to get through the things life throws at you?

• ASK GOD!

• But when we ask of God, ask believing in faith He will show us

• FAITH AND DOUBT ARE CONTRADICTIONS

DOUBLE-MINDED PERSON 

A person who claims faith, but doubts is:

Like a piece of driftwood that almost makes it to solid land, but at the last moment is swept away back out to sea

Like someone about to commit, but instead chooses to chase the butterflies

UNRELIABLE              UNSURE           UNANCHORED

3  RESULT OF TRIALS (9-12)

Worldly Philosophy vs Godly Theology

World: Be self-sufficient. We are the highest

GOD:  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God     1 Cor. 3:5 

World: “We have all the answers”

GOD: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty

Learn from flowers

Man is like the flowers of the field. They have their time of beauty, but eventually they fade

But the Glory of Jesus never fades

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  eb 13:8

ENDURING FAITH

Our endurance is not dependent upon physical strength, but spiritual faith

Our endurance is not dependent upon material wealth, but rather spiritual riches.

Our endurance is not dependent upon our worldly stature, but upon Whom we lean

Our Faith Endures, and So Do We

Crown of life for every believer because every believer goes through a time of testing. (12)

Sorrow looks back; Worry looks ahead; Fear looks around;  Faith looks up

Which direction are you looking?