Blessing amid Trials

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis week’s lesson keeps us moving down the path of learning what a blessing it is to be living under grace, rather than living under the burden of sin.  As you and I know, there is much that we go through on our journey through life; many heart aches and much pain.  That being said, we will see in our lesson this week that while going through our trials and temptations, the Lord is still with us and that is truly a great blessing.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eWhen We Fall Into Trialsu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur lesson opens with James speaking about when you and I, as true believers, fall into trials.  Trials, we can consider, to be tests or, as the King James Version translates, u003cemu003etemptations u003c/emu003ethat we face on our journey.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eThe purpose of our trialsu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTrials are something that everybody goes through, regardless of who they are or what they may possess.  For example, in Matthew’s gospel (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+4%3A1-11u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 4:1-11u003c/au003e), we see where Satan u003cemu003eintentionally u003c/emu003etempted Jesus with the desire to get Jesus to u003cemu003esin u003c/emu003eby falling down and worshiping him.  In the book of Job, Job, a blameless and upright man who had family and great wealth, was put through the ringer by Satan with the desire to get Job to u003cemu003ego against u003c/emu003ethe Lord (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A8-12u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJob 1:8-12u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, on one end of it, we see that our going through trials could potentially lead to one no longer trusting in the Lord and turning against Him.  I will skip to some of the later verses in our lesson to point out where James writes how u003cemu003ewe u003c/emu003eare tempted when we are drawn away by our desires and enticed; this is what gives birth to sin and can lead to spiritual death (vss.14-15).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSome believe that it is the Lord that puts us through these kinds of tests but, as James says, the Lord doesn’t put us through tests to commit sin.  You see, the Lord has no desire for you to sin at all so why would He put you in a test to where you could potentially fall into sin – that makes no sense!  So, as James says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’” (v.13).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus stood by faith and never gave in to the temptations of the devil.  Job, while he had questions for the Lord, did not curse God to his face because he held to his faith in the Lord.  Based on those two examples alone, we u003cemu003eknow u003c/emu003ewhat it takes to endure the trials that we will u003cemu003einevitably u003c/emu003eface on our journeys — it takes faith.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe question that we must answer u003cemu003ewhen u003c/emu003ewe go through our trials is this:  Are we going to stand u003cemu003epatientu003c/emu003e in our faith or not?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJames says to us that we should count it all u003cemu003ejoy u003c/emu003ewhen we fall into various trials because these trials test our faith and u003cemu003eproduce u003c/emu003epatience (vss.2-3).  Rarely does any of us consider that what we go through in life is for u003cemu003estrengthening u003c/emu003eus in our ability to endure and to persevere.  In other words, one trial builds us up for the next thing down the road so that when we come to that trial, we u003cemu003eknow u003c/emu003ethat we have the strength to make it through.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, the purpose of our trials and temptations is not for us to sin but to u003cemu003estrengthen us u003c/emu003eso that we can continue to endure and persevere.  Our trials only builds up our faith rather than tear it down.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eLean on the Lordu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, do we make it through those trials by our own might?  Absolutely not!  There are many that would like to believe that they have made it thus far on their journey by their own power and might but they are truly mistaken in this belief.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus said that those who build their house on a poor foundation would soon see their house collapse when the storms of life beat upon it (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+7%3A26-27u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 7:26-27u003c/au003e).  Yet, those whose house is built on a solid foundation will see their house withstand those same types of storms (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+7%3A24-25u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 7:24-25u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSome folks are just barely making it on their journey and one more storm – one more trial – could be their breaking point.  I don’t say this to scare anybody but the truth of the matter is that there have been many souls lost because rather than standing on faith in the Lord with what they were going through in life, they stood on something incredibly weak or nothing at all.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe believer cannot be that way when we face our trials and temptations.  James tells us to let patience – let faith – have its perfect work, so that we may be u003cemu003eperfect and completeu003c/emu003e, lacking nothing (v.4).  Is it u003cemu003efun u003c/emu003eto have to go through our trials and temptations?  No.  Yet, again, we should face whatever it is that we are going through in full u003cemu003econfidence u003c/emu003eknowing that we have the strength to be able to endure.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur strength, I want you to understand, comes from the Lord.  Again, we will see James tell us to go to God when we are being tested and tempted – don’t try to tackle these things on your own unless you want to get run over.  James said, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all u003cemu003eliberally u003c/emu003eand without reproach, and it will be given to him (v.5).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eGod gives liberallyu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen we talk about the blessing amid trials, the blessing truly is that the Lord is with us; God does not leave us nor does He forsake us (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.+31%3A6u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eDeut. 31:6u003c/au003e).  The fact that the Lord is there to u003cemu003ehelp us u003c/emu003ethrough our trials, again, truly is a blessing that we should be thankful for and we should lean on as well.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen James says that the Lord gives liberally, we have to be clear in our understanding.  Liberal: marked by generosity; given or provided in a u003cemu003egenerous u003c/emu003eand openhanded way.  So, in other words, when the Lord gives, He u003cemu003edoes not u003c/emu003ehold anything back.  As James said, the Lord gives without reproach (no hesitation).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLet us also point out who the Lord is giving to in such a manner.  God gives this way, we were told, to those who are u003cemu003elacking u003c/emu003eand u003cemu003easks u003c/emu003eHim.  Now, we have to also consider that those who ask of Him u003cemu003emust u003c/emu003eask out of true faith (v.6)!  True faith, James makes it very clear, asks without any doubt.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennDoubt, he says, causes one to be like a wave tossed by the wind – they are double minded (vss.7-8).  You see, the problem with the double minded person is that they are doubting the Lord.  This person u003cemu003eknows u003c/emu003ewhat they want but they are doubting the Lord’s u003cemu003eauthority u003c/emu003eto bless them.  Answer this question:  why would the Lord ever give us anything when we doubt He u003cemu003ecan u003c/emu003egive us anything?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSome would suggest that the Lord giving us something would be a way for u003cemu003eHim u003c/emu003eto prove what He can do.  My response to this would be:  hasn’t the Lord not proved Himself enough already?  In every testimony I have ever heard of the Lord, the Lord has proved u003cemu003eplenty u003c/emu003ethat He is faith, He is just, He is provider, and u003cemu003ewill u003c/emu003esupply our every need.  Why can’t we have some faith in Him rather than think that the Lord needs to prove Himself?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI tell you this, when you are tried and tested, the best thing that you can do is lean on the Lord.  Heed the testimony that is shared in scripture but heed the testimony of all of those around you who have been blessed with the Lord and made it through whatever they have gone through.  Then, I encourage you, stand on faith amid your trials and you will see that the Lord will bring you through.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eWe Overcome by Faithu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen we endure temptation, James writes that we will receive the crown of life (v.12).  The crown of life is that heavenly reward that all of those who are of true faith will receive at the end of their race, their journey.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis is the same crown, the u003cemu003eimperishable crownu003c/emu003e, that Paul wrote of in his first letter to the Corinthians (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor.+9%3A24-27u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Cor. 9:24-27u003c/au003e).  To Timothy, Paul referred to this same crown as the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8).  Paul wrote that those who compete in a race often compete for the prize that is at the end of the race; it is a prize that is of the world and while it may be a beautiful prize, a prize of meaning, it is also perishable.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennPaul said that we who believe are running a race for a prize at the end of the race.  Now, to be clear, he did not say that we were competing against one another, but rather, we are all running so that we can u003cemu003eall u003c/emu003eget the same prize.  In order to get that prize, Paul said that we must learn to be temperate (disciplined) in all things.  In our trials and our temptations, we must u003cemu003elearn u003c/emu003eto be disciplined so that we do not disobey and fall into sin!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOf himself, Paul said, “I run thus: not with uncertainty.  Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I u003cemu003ediscipline u003c/emu003emy body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”  So, Paul said that he learned to discipline himself the best that he could so that he could receive the reward of the imperishable crown rather than end up being disqualified.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhat does this mean for us?  We, again, must also learn to discipline ourselves so that we can receive the crown of life.  James has laid it out for us in how we can go about making it through our trials and temptation:  we lean on the Lord and be steadfast in our faith – we overcome by faith!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e