Life in the Midst of Trials
Pastor: Johnny Caruso Topic: Trials Scripture: James 1:1–11
Life in the Midst of Trials
James 1:1-11
Why Do We Go Through Trials?
- Trials come to test the Strength of our faith.
2 Chronicles 32:31, “God left him to test him that he might know all that was in his heart.”
- Trials come to Humble us.
2 Corinthians 12:7, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”
- Trials come to show God’s Things are better than the Things of the World.
John 6:5-7, “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
Hebrews 11:24-26, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”
- Trials call us to look to our Eternal Hope.
Romans 8:16, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “For which cause we faint not, for though our outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day and our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are not seen, but at the things with are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal.”
- Trials reveal what we Really Love.
Luke 14:26-27, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
- Trials enable us to Help others through their trials.
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
- Trials come to develop Enduring Strength for greater usefulness.
James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
All these fit into the plan of God, by his grace. But the question still lingers in your mind, “How do I make it through”?
How Should We Walk Through Trials?
- A Joyful attitude
James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”
- Have an Understanding mind
James 1:3 “because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
- Have a Submissive will
James 1:4, “Let endurance have its perfect result, because it’s going to make you perfect, or whole, or complete, lacking in nothing.”
It’s going to bring you to spiritual maturity. Have a submissive will. Through trials we are brought to spiritual maturity.
- Have a Believing heart
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and God will give to all men generously and without reproach.”
The condition:
James 1:6, “Ask in faith without any doubting. A person who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
- A Humble spirit
James 1:9-11, “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”
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