James 1:1-8 Faith Flushed Out Dennis

Mock
Sunday, May 16, 2010

It is fascinating that James is perhaps the most practical and power packed letter in the
entire NT. This is James the half-brother of Jesus who lost his life early in the history of
the Church as a martyr. He provides us with a series of tests by which we can know
whether our faith is genuine. These tests relate to our speech, behavior, favoritism, etc.
Life becomes the crucible in which our faith is refined. These tests come to us in the
ordinary circumstances of life. James is considered a form of NT proverbs. There are over
30 references to nature, 21 allusions to OT and many references to the Sermon on the
Mount. We need to read the 5 chapters of the book at one sitting to really get a feel for
the flow and movement of thought. Untested faith is not really faith until it has been
acted on in the crucible of life. It is ultimately not only about what we believe but how we
behave when our faith is really tested. James calls us to behave appropriately when our
faith is tested which will demonstrate that our faith is real.

Answer the following question: How would you rate the quality and character of your
personal faith? Is it genuine, real, steadfast? Do you doubt from time to time? Have you
matured to the point where your faith is solid and unshakeable?

James hits us with both barrels in this letter. We will all be challenged at some point. It is
not a heavily theological book but does contain more theology than you might think.

James writes to an early Diaspora of Christians.

Read James 1:1-8

– Faith will be flushed out by the trials of life.

How do we gain the benefits of trials?

1) By Accepting the Trials Joyfully – (v. 2-3)
a. Heb. 12:2 – Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him.
b. “Whenever…” – trials are a normal part of this life.
c. Trials can take on many forms and facets.
d. “Trials” is also translated “temptations” depending on context.
i. Every temptation is a trial but not every trial is a temptation except the
inherent temptation to not walk by faith.
e. We should not be shocked by our trials. We live in a sin cursed world and the
consequence is that we will face trials.
f. We should accept the difficulties and trials of life as formative and corrective
discipline from God.
i. Our other choice is to grumble and complain.
g. We accept them joyfully because of what we know (v. 3) – That God has sent
them for a purpose.
i. This includes trials brought upon us by our own actions.
ii.Every trouble or trial presents an opportunity to trust God.
iii.They all present an opportunity for character development.
iv.Our challenge is get in tune with God in terms of our proper response.

h. We should recognize the benefits.

 i. Job said, “Do I have the right to accept good from God and not the bad?”
2) Acknowledging God’s Good Purposes in our Trials – (v. 4)
a. Even the worst thing we can think of in terms of a human trial, God means
for good! (Gen. 50:20)
b. Notice how James talks about the effects and results of these trials (v. 4)
i. It is about faith developed over time to maturity.
ii.It results in proven character.
iii.Perseverance is the capacity or ability to bear up under stress and
testing over time. It is patience, which has endured over time.
1. James 5:11 – it involves resolve over time as Job demonstrated.
iv.Only if we persevere do we gain the benefit. Our response usually
does not effect the trial itself but only what the result is in our own
lives.
c. Impure motives and wrong agendas under which we operate are dealt with
as we endure trials.
i. These things must be exposed and purified out as dross so that our
faith can be pure.
d. Perseverance helps develop proven character. Character is developed by
trials or perhaps it would be better to say revealed in trials.
e. Purposes of Trials:
i. To get us to trust in God, not ourselves.
1. The point at which we give up and give it to God.
2. We trust God because He is the one with the power of
resurrection.
ii.To reveal character flaws.
1. EX: Peter (Matt. 16) says he will not let Jesus die even though
Jesus just said He must. He then denies Jesus three times before
his faith is purified.
2. Our demand to know ahead of time what God is doing or to
dictate what He should do are character flaws that will be rooted
out by trials.
3. 2 Cor. 4:17
iii.To realign our priorities.
iv.To keep us working on God’s purposes and will instead of our own.
1. We must by faith put aside our own agenda and believe by faith
that God’s agenda for us is superior.
v.To give us a greater capacity, through experience, to minister to other
people.
1. If we have not been through trials we have nothing to offer
others. (2 Cor. 1:3)
vi.We must cooperate with God in them to receive their beneficial result
(v. 6-7)
3) We need to allow trials to produce their intended results as we persevere
by faith. (v. 4-8)
a. Believing trust is what faith under trials is really about.
i. “Object oriented trust shaped by the object of our trust.” – J.I. Packer
b. Our response to trials will ultimately be determined by what we really trust
in!
c. Genuine faith must be acted on.
d. Three elements of Biblical Faith:
i. Knowledge of the object of our faith.
 ii.Agreement with the object of our faith.
iii.Reliance on the object of our faith.
e. Our human wisdom is an empty bank account, but if we ask God He will give
us spiritual wisdom. (v. 5)
i. God is not upset that we lack wisdom. In fact, He expects it.
ii.He gives it to us generously when we ask.
f. We must reject doubts. (v. 6)
i. We must believe that God exists and that He will respond to our
request for wisdom.
ii.We must not be double minded.
We must believe that God is and that He rewards those who trust in Him. We must know
Him well through His Word to fully trust Him. Hebrews 11:6