Gospel Bible Baptist Church

Turning Trials into Triumph
James 1: 2-4

Introduction

Many Christians live a life of sadness and misery, even confusion specially when experiencing trials or hard times. The Word of God tells us that we can be victorious despite of difficulties that we are facing. The Epistle of James tells us that we can have victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Illustration/Application: The More Iron Is worked the More It Is Worth
F. B. Meyer explained it this way: “A bar of iron worth $2.50, when wrought into horseshoes is worth $5. If made into needles it is worth $175. If into penknife blades it is worth $1,625. If made into springs for watches it is worth $125,000. What a ‘trial by fire’ that bar must undergo to be worth this! But the more it is manipulated, and the more it is hammered and passed through the heat, beaten, pounded, and polished, the greater its value.”
Christian, are you wondering about the trials through which you are passing? With impatient heart are you saying, “How long, O Lord?” The heat of the flame and the blows of the hammer are necessary if you are to be more than an unpolished, rough bar of iron. God’s all-wise plan, though it calls for the fire, produces the valuable watch spring of maturity. His very best for your life has behind it His perfect timing. – P.R.V. Our Daily Bread, February 23

I. Attitude in trials (James 1:2)
A. Count it all joy, the word count means to consider, account, esteem, suppose, judge, have the rule over, evaluate. Paul used it several times in Phil. 3. When Paul became a Christian, he evaluated his life and set new goals and priorities. Things that were once important to him became “dung, garbage, or something not important” in the light of his experience with Christ. When we face the trials of life, we must evaluate them in the light of what God is doing for us. It means that we understand that God is in control and that this trial will work for our good (Rom. 8:28), and we stand firmly on this fact and do not allow ourselves to be shaken. We are not expected to laugh in a trial but to stand firm in our faith in God’s promises during the trial.
B. This is why faithful Christians can have joy in the midst of trials: he lives for the things that matter most. Even our Lord was able to endure the cross because of “the joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:2), the joy of returning to heaven and one day sharing His glory with His church. In everything we can maintain our confidence in the Lord and not doubt His promises.
C. Temptation. The word temptation is used two different ways in the Bible. First, it is used in speaking of an invitation to commit sin as in 1 Tim. 6:9. Second, it is used to describe the outward afflictions that we have in the world. Paul testified that he had served the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: (Acts 20:19). Here Paul uses the word temptations to describe the outward affliction and persecutions that he faced as he served Christ. The second usage is what James means here when he speaks of diverse temptations (we can also call this trials)

D. The nature of these trials is divers or various, several, or many.

1. It may come in the form of sickness, accidents, disappointments, death, etc.
2. The child of God will face trials in this life. The Christian life is not always smooth sailing. Any believer who is committed to living for the Lord will soon face opposition. We are to expect it! Peter agreed with James. He said, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. (1 Pet. 4:12) Paul said, We are troubled on every side… (2 Cor. 4:8) Trials are not uncommon to the believer—expect them.
3. Satan fights us, and the world opposes us, expect trials!

E. Joy – James says, count it all joy. Joy is not the natural human response to trouble. Because of their faith these believers were suffering persecution. Jesus said that it would happen. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33). “But how,” we may ask, “is it possible to rejoice in the midst of trials?” The answer is, yes, which brings us to our second point.

II. “Knowing that the trying of your faith produces Patience (James 1:3)
A. We are to understand that: Trials test our faith. Faith tested can bring out the best in us! Just as fire purifies gold – 1 Pet. 1:7. Just as training makes the athlete stronger. In trials, the Lord wants to bring the best in us while the enemy wants to bring the worst in us.

B. With this understanding, we can have joy in trials because we know that:

1. Faith is always tested. Testing our faith proves that we are truly born again.
2. Testing works for us, not against us – 2 Cor. 4:17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
3. Trials rightly used help us to mature

C. Faith tested worketh Patience

1. Notice Rom. 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
2. “Patience” is not a passive acceptance of circumstances. The Greek word is “hupomone” cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: —enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). It a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering! It is the continuing on even when it is rough, despite the circumstances
3. Such a quality of steadfastness can come only through experiencing trials

Illustration/Application: The Example of Joseph
Think about Joseph. His life seemed to be one disappointment after the other. At seventeen years of age, he was ripped away from home and family, sold to a bunch of ruthless peddlers, taken to a foreign country, put on the slave block and resold only to become a common slave. His owner’s wife lied about him and framed him for something he didn’t do and off to prison he goes. By man’s standards Joseph should have been eaten up with a vile bitterness that would have ruined his life. But instead of getting bitter, Joseph counted it all joy as he endured the trials of life.
Later as Joseph spoke to his brother about their offence, he said But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (Genesis 50:20) Joseph’s focus was always a heavenly one. This was the philosophy that permeated Joseph’s life. He fully relied upon the living God and trusted Him completely. He realized that God providentially ordered all the events of his life. W. H. Griffith-Thomas wrote, “Happy is the man whose eye is open to see the hand of God in everyday events, for to him life always possesses a wonderful and true joy and glory.” If we handle our trials right, we will come out on top.

III. “Let Patience have its perfect Work” (James 1:4)
A. Too often, we want to get our trials or difficulties over quickly. But there are times when the best response is to endure patiently instead of complaining and grieving. We must patiently endure the trial, doing good despite of the difficulties. It was a time to trust in the Lord and to know that He never makes a mistake.

B. That ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. The common usage of the word “perfect” in the Bible does not necessarily denote sinless or absolute perfection, but completion, fullness, soundness, wholeness In the New Testament, it is used of those who have reached maturity in spiritual matters.

C. Such maturity comes only when patience has had time to work!

1. Consider, for example, a marathon runner in his training: He has to work out, running daily, mile after mile in order to develop patience and endure in the actual race.
2. In our spiritual life, we need to develop patience which comes only through trials in which our faith is put to the test!

IV. Conclusion:
Faithful Christians can turn trials into triumph through our faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He can have joy in the midst of trials and difficulties because he lives for the things that matter most. Trials comes to prove if our faith is genuine, to bring the best in us, and for us to develop patience. You too can be triumphant if you put your trust in Christ. Will you do it my friend?