Text:
James 1:2-4:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Theme:
Count It
Introduction:
- The Epistle of James was written by James the Less, the brother of Jesus, who was one of the three pillars of the first century church…Peter, James, and John.
- James wrote it from his home in Jerusalem to “the twelve tribes scattered abroad” after the time of the first imprisonment of Paul, around 62 A.D.
- The object of the writer was to enforce the practical duties of the Christian life…how to live
- The importance of Christian Living is tantamount to the fruitful life of a child of God.
- The great lesson for Christians that James teaches in this text is PATIENCE… specifically patience in trial.
- We are to have PATIENCE
- Patience is defined as “bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint”
- Patience is described in many ways and contexts in the scripture
- WAITING – Isaiah 40:31 describes, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
- LONGSUFFERING – 2Peter 3:9 describes, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
- ENDURANCE – 2Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
- Patience is WORKED by “the trying of your faith”
- Paul in Romans 5:3 confirms this scripture by saying, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”
- What does it mean for patience to be “WORK”ed
- To be put to a task that seemingly drains you of your resources without replenishing them.
- Grandmama used to tell us that we WORKED her nerves:)
- I have often said that people can “WORK” you if you let them.
- However, when patience is WORKED it becomes stronger, better, sharper
- When exercising, we work our muscles, heart and lungs so that they can be more efficient and effective in future tasks.
- We allow God to take us through things so that we can be more patient with God, others, and ourselves – WORK IT!!!!
- James 5:7 admonishes, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
- To be put to a task that seemingly drains you of your resources without replenishing them.
- We are to have PATIENCE
Body:
- Therefore, as our text says in verse 2, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
- But now, what is “THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH”
- The corresponding phrase in verse 1 of our text explains, “when ye fall into divers temptations”
- A primary point of clarity at this point is that the text says clearly, “divers temptations”.
- It is NOT referring to what we do
- It is NOT referring to what we say
- It is NOT referring to what we’ve done
- It is NOT referring to what we’ve said
- FOR THESE THINGS WE SIMPLY NEED TO REPENT!!!!!
- Divers temptations are characterized as the trials of this world’s sin-stricken opportunities
- Can be external
- With the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham in Genesis 22:1, “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham,”
- With the Temptation of Jesus by Satan in Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
- Temptation can come externally from ANY source!!!!! God can allow anyone or anything to either be or become a temptation.
- Anything that breaks the “top ten” can be a temptation to turn away from God
- Too much of anything (even a good thing) is not good –> #1 — “Though shalt have not other Gods before me!”
- Temptation can come externally from ANY source!!!!! God can allow anyone or anything to either be or become a temptation.
- Can be internal
- Will he do what God commands, as in Deuteronomy 8:2, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
- As in describing the Pharisees in Matthew 23:28, “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
- We are our own worst enemy
- Our flesh is our temptation because it is tainted with the world’s desire!
- Can be external
- All are susceptible to and will face temptation
- Luke 22:31 warns, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”
- If you are doing anything for God, Satan is gonna be on your tracks
- 1Peter 4:12 explains, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”
- Temptation is not an isolated occurrence, but, instead, is a recurring theme or struggle.
- Luke 22:31 warns, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”
- A primary point of clarity at this point is that the text says clearly, “divers temptations”.
However, don’t worry and don’t fret “when you fall into divers temptations”, COUNT IT ALL JOY!!!!
- COUNT IT?
- When playing basketball, there are times when the player may be fouled by excessive or interruptive physical interaction by another player. The referee will call the foul based on his or her judgment of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable according to the rules of the game of basketball. However, there are times when the player with the ball will actually go for a shot and get fouled by another player, but their MOMENTUM carries the ball on into the goal! In this instance, the referee will signal to “COUNT IT!” as the player gets to shoot free throws. While playing the game, there will be good and bad things to happen to the player but as long as the player has momentum that carries their shot into the goal, the referee will signal to “COUNT IT!” and let them shoot free throws.
- COUNT IT ALL JOY!
- It is the same in Christ. The divers temptations that we may face while, as Philippians 3:14 says, we “press” (momentum) are nothing but fouls that cannot stop us from making “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” and getting the free perk of JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Just go ahead and COUNT IT ALL JOY because, if we endure the foul, and maintain our momentum we will get our reward and the free shot of joy
- Like Rev. Sherrer would always say, “That’s free and didn’t cost you anything!”, God says the same thing about the joy.
- It’s not expected
- BUT, you know what, COUNT IT!
- It’s not foreseen
- BUT, you know what, COUNT IT!
- It’s not earned
- BUT, you know what, COUNT IT!
- It’s not understood
- BUT, you know what, COUNT IT!
- It’s not expected
- Why did God pick JOY as the “free shot”
- As Nehemiah and he can tell you from Nehemiah 8:10 when he says, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
- Joy is what we need to get through the temptation and maintain integrity!!!
- Like Rev. Sherrer would always say, “That’s free and didn’t cost you anything!”, God says the same thing about the joy.
- Just go ahead and COUNT IT ALL JOY because, if we endure the foul, and maintain our momentum we will get our reward and the free shot of joy
- It is the same in Christ. The divers temptations that we may face while, as Philippians 3:14 says, we “press” (momentum) are nothing but fouls that cannot stop us from making “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” and getting the free perk of JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Conclusion:
- Why should we COUNT IT ALL JOY!!!
- Not being patient tells who you are!
- Daniel 12:10 explains, “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
- There is a reward!!
- James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
- Not being patient tells who you are!
- I am gonna look beyond my trials and count them all JOY
- I want my crown
- I want my joy
- I want my peace
- I want my power
- I want my deliverance
- I want my salvation
- I want to see my Grandmother over there
- I want to see my Father over there
- I want to see King Jesus over there
- So I don’t worry, I COUNT IT!!!!!!!!!
- So I don’t curse, I COUNT IT!!!!!!!!!
- So I don’t argue, I COUNT IT!!!!!!!!!
- So I don’t give up, I COUNT IT!!!!!!!!!
#168
