“Joy in Trials”

How can difficulties and trouble be part of God’s will for his people? Pastor Mathew’s biblical exposition answers this question in the first installment of his sermon series on the book of James. Pastor Mathew launched this series on Sunday, May 5, 2013, beginning with James 1:1-4 in a message entitled “Joy in Trials.”

He introduced the book as one of the general epistles – not addressed to a specific church –
with an emphasis on practical Christian living even in the face of trials. Pastor Mathew then expounded James’ teaching regarding trials, making the following points:

1.  Consider it pure joy whenever you fall into divers kinds of trials.
There are no accidents – all things are God’s appointments. We are to think hard, think biblically, and apply the wisdom of Scripture when we face trials. Every believer must be tested in his faith (Matt. 5:11-12, 24:9, Luke 6:22). It is not natural to look on trials as a reason for pure joy – we have to have the mind of Christ. God wants us to triumph in the testing of our faith. Prayer helps us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, rejoicing in trials and triumphing in them (Rom. 14:17, Gal. 5:22, Rom. 5:3, 1 Peter 1:6-9, 1 Peter 4:12). God is with you in trials (Dan. 3:24-25, 2 Tim. 1:12).

2.  Because we know the purpose.
God’s purpose is to make us holy and blameless – He is interested in our sanctification. We all go through afflictions which produce character and the hope of the glory of God. Spiritual muscle is developed through the resistance of divinely controlled adversities (Prov. 17:3, Mal. 3:3). Look to Jesus when facing fiery trials. The purposes of trials are: a. Endurance for good works (1 Cor. 15:58) and b. That we may be mature, not infants (Eph. 4:13).

Pastor Mathew concluded with a list of the other purposes God can have for trials including: weaning us from worldliness, focusing our minds on heaven, preparing us for eternity, driving us to Bible study, prayer, and worship, keeping us from conceit, revealing our need for filling with the Holy Ghost, putting an end to carnal strength, showing us our need of Divine grace, developing endurance, making us perfect, helping us to sympathize with and minister to others, helping us to depend on others for help in our time of need, and giving us occasions for joyful worship.

For the full text of Pastor Mathew’s sermon, click here.  His second sermon from James, “Wisdom for the Asking,” is available here.