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“Testing, Testing!” • 4.22.18 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- It is a triumph of the Holy Spirit's wisdom
to close the book of Hebrews and
then to open to the book of James.
The two authors and books cannot be more diverse.
- The author of the book of Hebrews is unknown, but brilliant! The
dense depth and profound scale of his writing overwhelmed our spiritual senses.
- At some points, we left thinking, "I'm
not sure what he means here, but since he can't mean that, it must mean this .
. . I think!?" We gave it our best guess and were still a little uneasy.
- The same Holy Spirit that inspired the
profound complexity of Hebrews now
relieves us with the simple
profundity of James! We are not likely
to leave any Sunday soon with a sense of mystery.
- Our new author is direct, simple and to the
point! He means what he says and says what he means. The Holy Spirit says,
"You're welcome!"
- If Hebrews lays out the schematic of
Christian belief, then James lays out how to apply it! He begins first by
introducing himself and by proxy, the book we are about to study. Verse 1.
Text
• James 1:1 : "James, a bondservant of God and of the
Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." : As we open this letter, we are confronted by the usual
questions beginning with the identity of the author.
- There are several candidates in the pages of
scripture and without expending much time considering the merits of each
candidate, I'll let you know that the majority opinion is likely the best.
- This particular James is the half-brother of
the Lord Jesus Himself! He is the non-immaculately conceived son of Joseph and
Mary.
- Matthew
13:55 and Mark 6:3 both contain
lists of Joseph and Mary's children. After Jesus, they had at least six
children and in both lists, James is listed first, indicating his birth order.
- You'd think that growing up with Jesus as
your older brother would secure a believing response. You'd be wrong! James wasn't
a believer. In fact, he was at least, a skeptic.
- What does it it takes for a man or woman to
receive Christ? Unless God works to bring a person to Himself, even living with
Jesus would be lost on him!
- Does this not tell us much of the life of the
Lord? He didn't walk on water to satisfy unbelievers. He lived a very normal
human life. That might relate to the reason for James' skepticism.
- The Lord's ministry began among the people of
the Galilee and opinion was largely divided over Him. Mark 3:21 relates
that some thought Him to be out of His mind!
- In that same chapter, Mary and His brothers
came to see Him in order to call Him aside. It's not clear what his brothers
thought from that passage, but John's
account makes it clear.
• John 7:3-5 : "His
brothers therefore said to Him, 'Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your
disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret
while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself
to the world.' For
even His brothers did not believe in Him." : You
can hear the sarcasm in their voice as they expressed this can't you?
"C'mon, prove who you say you are already!?" They knew of His
character and work, but couldn't reconcile HIs message.
- That is where most unregenerate men land!
He's a good and special Man, but not the Messiah! The Messiah would certainly
act in a more public way!
- Jesus didn't meet their expectation for the
Messiah and it seems that their unbelief continued until the end of their brother's life. Then, for James and Jude at least, something changed.
- I
Corinthians 15:7 relays that the Lord appeared to James after His
resurrection! Can you imagine that meeting? "See, I told you!"
- The Lord, in great grace, met Him where he
was at and James began to walk with His Lord!
- He began a new relationship to His brother
that day, surrendering His life to serve God. He calls himself, not the Lord's
brother, but the Lord's bondservant.
- Exodus
21:1-6 lays out the terms of being a bondslave. After a 6 year term of
service, a slave was to be set free, unless that slave, out of love and
loyalty, sought to willfully remain.
- James was His Lord's slave, voluntarily
laying aside the right to His life to live for God's purpose. Don't miss the
incredible statement that James simply declares.
- James takes the Name of God and the Name of
Jesus and puts them on the same level, even calling Jesus "Lord," the
Greek equivalent of God! Indeed, they belong on the same level!
- And we belong with James in adopting the
identity of bondslaves! Every person that calls themselves a
"Christian" are willingly offering their lives in service to God. Is
that you? It should be!
- Our platform might differ, but our service is
the same! In our brother's case, the Lord definitely had a large platform in
mind!
- Between the Lord's resurrection and the birth
of the church, there are 50 days.
- Between the day of Pentecost, when 3,000 were
brought into the church and the persecution of Paul, scattering said church,
there may have been as many as 5-7 years.
- It was during that period of time as the
church was growing, that the Lord ordained that James would serve as her Pastor.
That is, until Saul began to persecute the Way!
- From there, the Jewish Christians were
scattered all over the region, many traveling back to their home towns. This
group came to be known as the "Diaspora."
- The word speaks of seed scattered throughout
a field. What a perfect picture!
- The Lord allowed Saul's persecution to
scatter Christian seed throughout the Roman empire! Everywhere the Christians
went, life was changed around them! That is who James is writing to.
- They are refugees on account of their
spiritual alignment to Christ. They are dealing with the difficulty of walking
with Christ in diverse places, without the benefit of each other's wisdom.
- Because James and the Apostles were left
alone in Jerusalem with those who had a right to live there, all James could do
was to write these a general letter to help guide them in the Way.
- Consider what he felt like as a leader. How
helpless would you feel? How much compassion would you have? How much concern
would grip your heart for their spiritual lives?
- Take that into consideration and think about
his tone as we come into verse 2.
• James 1:2-4 : "My
brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing." : Does
this sound a bit different to you? "My brethren." I hear a yearning
and a sigh as he thinks of them.
- He doesn't want them to misunderstand their
current circumstances."Count it all joy."
- Consider it an opportunity to rejoice when this
happens to you. Our natural inclination under duress is to feel affected in the
opposite direction. Certainly many did.
- Had God abandoned them or was He punishing
them? James won't allow them to be ignorant or to give into dismay! The
Christian has a better choice!
- The Christian can choose to see their
struggles in a different light. This doesn't mean that we don't initially
react. It does mean that once we consider our plight, we will eventually see
God's hand!
- Let us learn what we can about trials as we
examine our brother's statement. Note first the inevitability. "Count it
all joy WHEN..." Don't you wish James would have said "if?"
- Many Christians live in that mindset,
believing that trials are possible, but not probable. That isn't the way that
any of God's people have it! You are leaving one or one is on it's way!
- Trials are inevitable and unexpected. Notice:
When you FALL into this! Trials cannot be planned or scheduled!
- The word refers to discovering oneself
suddenly encompassed or surrounded by something. It's inevitable, unexpected
and infinitely varied! The word "various" points to diversity!
- The trials we face come in all shapes and
sizes. There are various kinds arising from health, financial and relationship
struggles. Every area of life can and will produce fodder for testing
- And what is the intended target for testing? Your
faith in, your dependance upon the Lord!
- At
this point, it would be wise to investigate the word "trials." The
word intones a set of conditions which prove the quality of something.
- Today, before a new product is unveiled, it
undergoes a "beta test." A select group of people receive the product
and use it under varying conditions, reporting it's response to the
manufacturer.
- Over time, the manufacturer perfects his
product and eventually, it goes to market with virtually every condition
accounted for. That is what is occuring when you and I face trials.
- The strength of our faith is being revealed,
the kinks are being eliminated and the genuine proof shown by the test brings
about patience. This is what we can rejoice in!
- We know that God is doing a work in our
lives! This isn't a wasted exercise. He is working to produce patience, that
wonderful Greek word "hupomone!"
- Consistency, endurance, steadfastness. The
quality of dogged determination that will not be denied. That is what trials do
for our faith, but that is not the end.
- Patience only opens the door to it's perfect
work. Let that characteristic loose to be able to bring about a complete
effect.
- He wants you and I to be finished, complete
and whole or sound in every part, not being deficient in any way! But how is
this possible? Verse 5.
• James 1:5 : "If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him." :
Think about what James is conveying to this group of Christian refugees.
- They are removed from his, Pastor James'
presence, as well as from the community that had been their spiritual fountain.
They must have felt that loss acutely.
- There were difficulties that weren't simple
matters that lay before them and they needed help! At that point, James does
what every good Pastor must do. He turns them toward the Lord!
- "If any of you lacks wisdom!" This
was open to all, not just the spiritual elite! This is for every last one of
them. "All you have to do is ask of the Lord for wisdom!"
- Certainly all have heard of the definition,
but just so we are clear, I'll repeat it. Wisdom is the application of
knowledge, in this case, related to the reverence of the Lord!
- "How can I submit to a godless boss and
still maintain a fear of the Lord?" "How can I do business in this
crooked world and fear the Lord?"
- They are told to petition the throne room of
God for that particular knowledge that they would need to live before Him! I
say the same thing to you!
- Before you post to Facebook or call your
favorite advisor, simply ask the Lord for wisdom and wait until He give you
clarity!
- You're faith will be tested and your own
human wisdom will come to an end. The good news here is that there won't be a test where there won't also be an
infusion of God's wisdom!
- And let it be known that He is not giving as
little as can be spared! He is giving it to all who ask generously,
bountifully!
- Are you lacking in wisdom today? Have you
asked the Lord? This is as much your promise as it was theirs! He gives wisdom
generously and does so without scolding us!
- When we ask the Lord, He doesn't give with an
ogre's heart. He doesn't chide you for asking Him, as if you had asked
foolishly! All who ask will receive, on one condition. Verse 6.
• James
1:6-8 : "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that
he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." : God only requires that we ask Him with a firm belief that He
will give us the wisdom we need! Don't ask with a wavering heart! That person
has no foundation.
- One minute, he believes this proposition, but
is no sooner convinced than he is convinced of another! In that way, he's being
driven and tossed around with every wind that comes his way!
- The picture is of a person who can't be still
to wait for what he has asked for. That kind of person won't receive anything
from the Lord. He is double-minded, divided in his thinking.
- He is vascillating and inconstant in
everything that he does! The Lord can't help him because
he won't wait
to receive the help the Lord would give!
- He asks, but then, after waiting three
seconds, he bolts, figuring that God didn't care or it didn't work!
- It never enters his mind that he had to wait
patiently, trusting in God to bring him what he needed! He will give you what
you need, but you have to be still to receive it! Verse 9.
• James
1:9-11 : "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation,
because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen
with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its
beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his
pursuits." : Christians will go through trials
and if they ask God, He will give them wisdom generously. Who asks God for
wisdom? The brother in lowly conditions.
- The word can be translated "cast
down," "depressed" or even "humiliated."
- He needs to boast in his exaltation! What
does that mean? The Sovereign God condescends to render Him aid! That is the
upside of being down in the Lord!
- The Lord lifts up the man who is nothing and
meets the man who once had everything! The NLT renders verse 10, "And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them."
- To some degree, the rich in Christ has been
given a great gift. They are not slaves to their wealth. They have been given a
true assessment of their position.
- They know that their lives and their wealth
is transitory. They know that they are here today and gone tomorrow, just like
the flowers of the field, that are one day colorful and the next, gone!
- That is what the rich are like who have not
Christ! They vanish away in the pursuit of more riches, not realizing that they
are moving toward their doom!
- What a blessing then that trials hit the poor
and the rich alike! We don't have to imagine what it is like to miss out on
that perspective. The Bible is replete with examples.
- Think of the stories that James could be
referencing from what we know of the gospels. What about the Rich Young Ruler,
who admitted his lack in spite of his riches and religion?
- He went away sad because of his many
possessions that he could not leave for the hope of eternal life that brought
him to Jesus in the first place!
- There is one story that Jesus tells however
that might serve as the best illustration of the point that James is making.
Turn with me to Luke 12.
- When you read the chapter later today, you'll
read a sample of the kind of sober gravity that the Lord spoke from. Hypocrisy,
hell and confessing Christ before men in eleven verses.
- From the crowd, a man interrupts the Lord as
He authoritatively talks on these ultimate issues, screaming out, "Tell my
brother to divide the inheritance with me."
- Can you imagine a more irrelevant outburst
given the topics? In response, the Lord conveys this story.
•
Luke 12:16-21 : "Then He spoke a parable to them,
saying: 'The ground of a certain
rich man yielded plentifully. And he
thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store
my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down
my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up
for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.' But God said to him,
‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those
things be which you have provided?’ So
is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.'" : "Fool, this night your soul will be required of you!"
What a statement! The rich man in this world is given no grace to see the
impending nature of his own doom!
-
Listen to him. "I'll build bigger barns." "I'm set for
life!" "I can sit back and relax!" How jarring was it to awaken
suddenly to the voice of God calling the man to account!
-
That is what the rich man apart from God will face! Not so for the one that
sees God's hand bringing a humilty to their hearts!
-
The Christian says, "Thank you for humbling me, for giving me the wisdom
to see my true end and to properly value what I have in this world!" Verse
12.
•
James 1:12 : "Blessed is the man who endures
temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." : This is our brother's conclusion! Blessed, supremely happy is
the man that is currently and will repeatedly endure through testing.
-
The translators for the KJV and the NKJV really missed this one here.
Temptation, from the same Greek word, is the theme of the next few verses, so
it's natural to assume it's place here.
-
However, every other translation prefers, rightly I might add, the use of the
word "trial" or "testing." Why is that the correct word?
Context.
-
What have we been talking about? And what comes immediately after? The concept
of approval. It's the word that was used when a metal had been assayed,
evaluated for it's purity.
˚
"In the ancient world there was no
banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from
metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the
coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins
were comparatively soft, and of course many people shaved them closely. In one
century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens to stop the practice of
whittling down the coins then in circulation. But some money-changers were men
of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money; they were men of honour
who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation. Such men were called
dokimos, and this word is used here for the Christian as he is to be seen by
the world."
Donald Grey Barnhouse
-
When the person who has endured through trials has been authenticated, they
will receive the crown of life! What a beautiful picture!
-
They might not be rich in this world. They might be those that in fact, that
look to be deserted by God. Yet, it is God that bestows upon them that all the
riches on earth could not obtain!
-
God gives to them the crown of life because they have endured. Why have they
endured? For the sake of love! They love Him!
Conclusion
- Our passage
reminds us of the sober reality of trials, but calls us to understand that we
need not despair under them. God is working something out in your life!
- He doesn't
intend to confuse you. In fact, if you'll ask Him and patiently wait upon Him,
He will come to your aid with the wisdom of heaven!
- Thank Him for
allowing your faith to clearly see the value of this world and to more clearly
see the value of Himself! That is the true end of our testing, to count all
else as loss for the sake of Christ.
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