WEBVTT 00:00:34.756 --> 00:00:36.877 I. 00:00:36.877 --> 00:00:46.170 We have been in a sermon series on what the Bible teaches us about how to be happy, and to do that, we've been studying the little phrases. 00:00:46.170 --> 00:00:48.487 Blessed is the one in the Bible. 00:00:48.487 --> 00:00:57.070 They really are God's invitations for us to enjoy his blessings in life when we follow his directions that go with it. 00:00:57.070 --> 00:01:04.109 This will be the final sermon in this topical series before we return to the book of Acts. 00:01:04.109 --> 00:01:09.847 If you'd like a sermon outline and didn't get one, the rest of us would be happy to hand you one right now. 00:01:09.847 --> 00:01:11.466 Just let them know you want one. 00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:38.423 An English teacher was working on antonyms with her students words that mean the opposite thing, and the teacher began by saying, just to get us started, mr Nichols, what's the opposite of joy? 00:01:38.423 --> 00:01:43.188 And he answered sadness Good, good. 00:01:43.188 --> 00:01:46.793 And Miss Biggs, what's the opposite of depression? 00:01:46.793 --> 00:01:52.180 And she said elation Good, good, good. 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:55.004 And Mr Crabtree, what's the opposite of woe? 00:01:55.004 --> 00:02:07.177 Giddy up, yeah, it makes sense, doesn't it? 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:18.431 This week we're going to look at the ironic opposite of sadness by highlighting two of God's blessing in the same passage. 00:02:18.431 --> 00:02:27.112 They are literally inseparably connected and can have the greatest impact of joy in our lives, I'm convinced. 00:02:27.112 --> 00:02:29.865 So let me read the passage. 00:02:29.865 --> 00:02:32.931 I'm going to break into the book of James, chapter 1. 00:02:32.931 --> 00:02:36.265 So if you bought a Bible and want to follow along, you can do that now. 00:02:36.265 --> 00:02:38.350 James, chapter 1. 00:02:38.350 --> 00:02:43.385 I'm just going to break in to starting in verse 12. 00:02:43.385 --> 00:02:54.248 I'll refer to the earlier parts in a few minutes, but I want to show you the blessing first and read the context of that. 00:02:54.429 --> 00:03:03.806 So James 1, beginning in verse 12, blessed is a man who perseveres under trial. 00:03:03.806 --> 00:03:06.131 For once he's been approved. 00:03:06.131 --> 00:03:11.289 He will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 00:03:11.289 --> 00:03:19.991 Let no one say, when he's tempted, I'm being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself does not tempt anyone. 00:03:19.991 --> 00:03:25.472 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 00:03:25.472 --> 00:03:32.353 Then, when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 00:03:32.353 --> 00:03:35.568 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 00:03:35.568 --> 00:03:45.972 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 00:03:45.972 --> 00:03:56.383 In the exercise of his will, he brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among his creatures. 00:03:56.383 --> 00:04:07.313 This you know, my beloved brethren, but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 00:04:07.313 --> 00:04:24.394 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness, all that remains of wickedness, and, in humility, receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls, but prove to be doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 00:04:24.394 --> 00:04:31.315 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he's like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror. 00:04:31.315 --> 00:04:36.713 Once he's looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 00:04:36.713 --> 00:04:43.088 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it. 00:04:43.088 --> 00:04:50.550 Not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 00:04:50.550 --> 00:04:52.153 Double blessing today. 00:04:52.153 --> 00:05:02.442 Just to point those two out and they go together as you'll see in a minute, verse 112,. 00:05:02.442 --> 00:05:07.291 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial Second verse 25,. 00:05:07.291 --> 00:05:13.211 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the word of God he's referring to the law of liberty and abides by it. 00:05:13.211 --> 00:05:19.880 Not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 00:05:21.202 --> 00:05:26.913 James begins, though, this letter with what seems to be a non sequitur. 00:05:26.913 --> 00:05:35.814 James asked us, in verse two, to consider all joy when you go through various trials. 00:05:35.814 --> 00:05:44.454 Well, ok, logically see, it does not appear that joy is what we normally experience during a trial. 00:05:44.454 --> 00:05:48.545 It seems absurd, a non sequitur. 00:05:48.545 --> 00:05:57.814 That paradox actually leads James to the reason we can find joy in trials and what we need to do to find it. 00:05:57.814 --> 00:06:08.894 The reason we should consider it all joy when facing any trial is because God is using the trial to produce something very good in our lives. 00:06:08.894 --> 00:06:12.826 James 1, 3 and 4. 00:06:12.826 --> 00:06:17.920 Count it all joy, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:23.514 Let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete. 00:06:23.514 --> 00:06:24.978 Lacking in nothing, the words perfect and complete. 00:06:24.978 --> 00:06:25.358 Lacking in nothing. 00:06:25.358 --> 00:06:37.987 The words perfect and complete refer to spiritual maturity to become more loving and closer to God, to become more like Jesus, spiritually mature. 00:06:37.987 --> 00:06:43.963 Now, to help us become spiritually mature, trials are going to test our faith. 00:06:43.963 --> 00:06:46.048 It's a very interesting expression. 00:06:46.048 --> 00:06:52.209 What does it mean that our faith is tested, and how does that lead to spiritual maturity? 00:06:52.209 --> 00:06:55.021 Well, let me try to explain it this way. 00:06:55.802 --> 00:07:03.894 When we go through a hard time, a trial, quite often doubts begin to arise. 00:07:03.894 --> 00:07:17.644 Often, doubts begin to arise and we start to ask important questions related to our faith in God, whom we believe in, things that need to be ironed out. 00:07:17.644 --> 00:07:21.170 What do we really believe about God? 00:07:21.170 --> 00:07:23.434 Where is he in all this trial? 00:07:23.434 --> 00:07:28.781 Why is he allowing it? 00:07:28.781 --> 00:07:29.704 Do I believe he still loves me? 00:07:29.704 --> 00:07:30.504 Is with me? 00:07:30.504 --> 00:07:32.649 This is hard. 00:07:32.649 --> 00:07:36.295 Do I believe that he's sovereignly overseeing this? 00:07:36.295 --> 00:07:40.946 Do I believe his word and his promises? 00:07:40.946 --> 00:07:42.951 All kinds of questions. 00:07:42.951 --> 00:07:52.271 You see, when that faith is tested in the middle of a trial boom, we start working through those. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:55.749 James is saying that the secret of spiritual growth. 00:07:55.749 --> 00:08:03.867 Listen carefully we cannot grow spiritually without a struggle, without suffering. 00:08:03.867 --> 00:08:07.432 We can't, we won't. 00:08:07.432 --> 00:08:18.420 In other words, this is actually how we should say it we won't grow. 00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:20.242 We'll be too laissez-faire, comfortable, just everything going as it is. 00:08:20.242 --> 00:08:21.142 We won't change. 00:08:23.204 --> 00:08:32.311 That's why I think the writer of Hebrews tells us that, as a human being, jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. 00:08:32.311 --> 00:08:34.533 Talk about trials. 00:08:34.533 --> 00:08:40.778 As a result of those trials, he was perfected, more mature. 00:08:40.778 --> 00:08:47.650 Same word James uses here Hebrews 5, 7 to 9,. 00:08:47.650 --> 00:09:01.565 In the days of his flesh, jesus offered up both prayers and supplications, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his piety, loud crying and tears. 00:09:01.565 --> 00:09:11.120 Jesus is going through trials, okay, crying. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.322 Jesus is going through trials, okay, praying. 00:09:12.322 --> 00:09:15.125 And although he was a son, the son of God, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 00:09:15.125 --> 00:09:17.529 So do we. 00:09:17.529 --> 00:09:20.374 Are you learning? 00:09:20.374 --> 00:09:21.520 Are you listening? 00:09:21.520 --> 00:09:22.022 See? 00:09:22.022 --> 00:09:30.046 And having been made perfect, mature, he became, to all who obey him, the source of eternal salvation. 00:09:31.509 --> 00:09:47.975 I believe it's while and James mentions this word persevere or endure, it's while we're enduring a trial that our faith and character are shaped, realigned, according to God and the Scripture. 00:09:47.975 --> 00:09:49.782 James 1.3,. 00:09:49.782 --> 00:09:53.331 Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 00:09:53.331 --> 00:10:05.951 The blessing of joy is the result of how we endure a trial. 00:10:05.951 --> 00:10:19.934 Put that thought in your head, because that's, I believe, what James is saying the blessing of joy is a result of how we endure the trial. 00:10:19.934 --> 00:10:28.332 It's when we're enduring a trial, obviously, that we should quite naturally draw closer to God. 00:10:28.332 --> 00:10:31.365 Right, I don't know about you, I do. 00:10:31.365 --> 00:10:34.706 I'm praying more. 00:10:34.706 --> 00:10:40.405 I'm literally he's got my attention and I'm praying, I'm drawing closer. 00:10:40.405 --> 00:10:54.081 Here's the thing If we don't draw closer to God in the trial, we'll become bitter, not better Bitter. 00:10:54.081 --> 00:11:18.623 There's going to be no joy, james is saying if we endure the trial, trusting and depending on God, our faith, our faith will get purer, stronger and will grow to spiritual maturity, have its perfect effect. 00:11:18.623 --> 00:11:22.369 James is also saying this is just. 00:11:22.889 --> 00:11:26.514 This passage is packed with biblical truth that are unbelievable. 00:11:26.514 --> 00:11:36.025 James is also saying our trials have a way of correcting our misconceptions about God and realigning us to proper faith in Him. 00:11:36.025 --> 00:11:40.475 I think you catch this in verses like James 1.13. 00:11:40.475 --> 00:11:51.668 Hey, if you're going through a trial, let nobody say you see, maybe you need to be corrected here about God's part in all of this. 00:11:51.668 --> 00:11:57.921 Let nobody say when he's tempted, I'm being tempted by God, god is doing this to me. 00:11:57.921 --> 00:12:03.625 No, god can't be tempted by evil and he himself does not tempt anyone. 00:12:03.625 --> 00:12:06.668 Can't be tempted by evil and he himself does not tempt anyone. 00:12:06.668 --> 00:12:07.328 Theology Realign it. 00:12:07.328 --> 00:12:08.850 Who is he? 00:12:08.850 --> 00:12:10.871 Do you believe it? 00:12:10.871 --> 00:12:23.924 Now, it's interesting the Greek word for temptation is parosmos, and the word parosmos can refer to either a trial or a temptation to sin. 00:12:23.945 --> 00:12:27.592 James, I believe, is using both senses in this passage. 00:12:27.592 --> 00:12:32.889 Both trials and temptations to sin test our faith in him. 00:12:32.889 --> 00:12:35.734 What do we really believe? 00:12:35.734 --> 00:12:41.530 I think the reason they're put together like this in James 1 is that sometime. 00:12:41.530 --> 00:12:45.667 You see, when we're going through a trial, you know what happens to us. 00:12:45.667 --> 00:12:49.634 That's when we're most vulnerable to sin. 00:12:49.634 --> 00:12:59.563 We're most vulnerable to try to relieve our deep unhappiness by our own fleshly means. 00:12:59.563 --> 00:13:12.096 Trial, temptation they kind of go together and we do that rather than trusting God and who he is. 00:13:12.096 --> 00:13:23.951 However, god invites us to receive the reward for enduring trials, which let me just touch on quickly. 00:13:24.032 --> 00:13:36.285 Next, as a result of persevering through a trial, no matter what it is, god promises to do two things that will bring us joy, a little taste of heaven. 00:13:36.285 --> 00:13:41.505 First, there's the blessing of spiritual maturity we've already looked at in James 1.4,. 00:13:41.505 --> 00:13:43.129 Endurance you do it. 00:13:43.129 --> 00:13:53.951 Perfect result You're going to grow, you're going to be closer to God, you're going to be perfect and complete. 00:13:53.951 --> 00:13:55.576 You're not going to lack anything. 00:13:55.576 --> 00:14:01.317 Second, we'll receive the blessing of an eternal reward in heaven James 1.12,. 00:14:01.317 --> 00:14:03.809 Blessed is the man who perseveres in the trial. 00:14:03.809 --> 00:14:09.933 Once he's been approved, he'll receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 00:14:09.933 --> 00:14:17.918 But remember the blessing of persevering under trials resulting in joy. 00:14:17.918 --> 00:14:22.635 I believe James is making a case that it's linked to this other blessing. 00:14:22.635 --> 00:14:36.167 He won't experience a joy in trial without it. 00:14:36.167 --> 00:14:37.548 You won't persevere without it. 00:14:37.548 --> 00:14:48.000 The blessings go together and explain how to realize the joy when we persevere under the trial, which is our last point. 00:14:48.565 --> 00:14:51.575 When we go through trials, as I said before, our faith is going to be tested. 00:14:51.575 --> 00:15:01.600 We learn in that trial the quality and strength of our faith by how we respond to the trial. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:05.374 God has given us a little picture of ourselves. 00:15:05.374 --> 00:15:15.659 Do you see it? 00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.783 Are you listening? 00:15:16.783 --> 00:15:25.493 If we respond by trusting God, his good character, his Word, we're going to experience joy that he has promised. 00:15:25.493 --> 00:15:37.758 However and this is, I think, james is making a big case about this I think he's directly addressing wrong responses to a trial. 00:15:37.758 --> 00:15:39.220 No joy there. 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:44.227 These are not. 00:15:44.227 --> 00:15:47.236 This is how you don't persevere a trial. 00:15:47.236 --> 00:15:49.643 There'll be no joy First. 00:15:49.643 --> 00:15:56.863 James already mentioned a few responses that prove our faith is weak and it needs to grow First. 00:15:57.024 --> 00:16:02.596 If a trial comes along and it doesn't take us long we start doubting God right away. 00:16:02.596 --> 00:16:09.489 Oh my goodness, his existence, his ability to help, his willingness to answer our prayers, james says. 00:16:09.489 --> 00:16:29.032 But when you go through, he must ask in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind that man ought not to expect that he'll receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, doubt. 00:16:29.032 --> 00:16:36.750 Second, our trial comes along and we get proud. 00:16:36.750 --> 00:16:39.731 We get proud. 00:16:39.731 --> 00:16:44.174 We still cling to our devices. 00:16:44.174 --> 00:16:54.115 What we think works better for us makes so we can be happy Thinking our money, our resources are just enough to get us through. 00:16:54.115 --> 00:16:55.870 Don't have to go to God. 00:16:55.870 --> 00:16:58.912 James 1, 9 to 11. 00:16:58.912 --> 00:17:03.336 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position. 00:17:03.336 --> 00:17:10.135 The rich man is to glory in his humiliation Because, like a flowering grass, he will pass away. 00:17:10.135 --> 00:17:16.971 The sun rises with a scorching wind withers with the grass, the flower falls off, the beauty of its appearance is destroyed. 00:17:16.971 --> 00:17:21.671 So too the rich man, in the midst of his pursuits, will fade away. 00:17:21.671 --> 00:17:37.452 Message the danger of pride when you go through trials, not a way to draw close to God, and there won't be any joy if you do that. 00:17:37.452 --> 00:17:41.159 We'll get to the opposite in just a minute. 00:17:41.765 --> 00:17:50.829 Third trial comes along and you know, as I mentioned before, we start blaming God for the situation we're in. 00:17:50.829 --> 00:17:58.969 I mean, you see this throughout the Scripture Adam blamed Eve, moses blamed God. 00:17:58.969 --> 00:18:00.833 Give them to those people. 00:18:00.833 --> 00:18:01.433 It's terrible. 00:18:01.433 --> 00:18:07.736 Okay, all through the Scripture, One of our default mechanisms blame, blame. 00:18:07.736 --> 00:18:24.570 I wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for you or you Blaming God for our sad state of affairs and rationalizing a fleshly response James 1, 13 to 16,. 00:18:24.631 --> 00:18:35.512 Let no one say when he's tempted Remember temptation, same word for trial I'm being tempted by God. 00:18:35.512 --> 00:18:37.030 God cannot be tempted by evil. 00:18:37.030 --> 00:18:39.232 He himself doesn't tempt anyone. 00:18:39.232 --> 00:18:42.755 Each one is tempted when he's carried away and enticed with his own lust. 00:18:42.755 --> 00:18:44.348 Lust is conceived. 00:18:44.348 --> 00:18:45.313 It gives birth to sin. 00:18:45.313 --> 00:18:47.071 As soon as it's accomplished, it brings forth death. 00:18:47.071 --> 00:18:49.875 Do not be deceived, my brethren. 00:18:49.875 --> 00:18:51.371 You haven't understood God. 00:18:57.765 --> 00:18:59.531 Fourth trial comes along. 00:18:59.531 --> 00:19:06.351 Last one Wrong response to a trial You're going to have no joy. 00:19:06.351 --> 00:19:16.839 Trial comes along and we get angry, fuming, hot mad at the people around us that are making us unhappy. 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:19.790 James 1, 19 and 20. 00:19:19.790 --> 00:19:25.095 This you know, my beloved brethren, every man must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. 00:19:25.095 --> 00:19:29.817 The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God or the joy of God or anything else. 00:19:29.817 --> 00:19:38.676 These are all wrong responses to a trial outlined here. 00:19:38.676 --> 00:19:41.452 That is not persevering. 00:19:41.452 --> 00:19:46.765 Our tested faith will not be approved. 00:19:46.765 --> 00:20:01.650 Doubts, pride, blame, anger those are our default responses to trials, most, most of the time, whoa. 00:20:01.650 --> 00:20:10.721 How, then, do we avoid the wrong responses and receive the blessing and approval of God when we persevere through a trial? 00:20:10.721 --> 00:20:13.573 That's what James tells us next. 00:20:13.573 --> 00:20:26.244 Lock this in your mind and heart the blessings are connected. 00:20:26.244 --> 00:20:29.982 The blessings are connected. 00:20:30.924 --> 00:20:41.499 The key to experiencing the joy of heaven by persevering through trials and growing strong in our faith is inseparably linked to how we respond to God's Word in a trial. 00:20:41.499 --> 00:20:48.351 To find joy in a trial. 00:20:48.351 --> 00:20:51.016 We're not going to get there on our own. 00:20:51.016 --> 00:20:53.605 Everything's terrible, miserable. 00:20:53.605 --> 00:20:58.673 I don't see any good in this. 00:20:58.673 --> 00:21:06.443 Nothing's making me happy To find joy in a trial. 00:21:06.443 --> 00:21:07.384 You know what we need. 00:21:07.384 --> 00:21:16.778 We need God's perspective and you know where we get that Right here His Word. 00:21:16.778 --> 00:21:22.978 He gave it to us so we understand who he is and what he's doing. 00:21:22.978 --> 00:21:27.400 Who he is and what he's doing. 00:21:31.805 --> 00:21:37.157 At the end of chapter 1, james gives us a very powerful contrast of how we relate to the Word of God. 00:21:37.157 --> 00:21:46.530 He describes the Word of God as a mirror, and when we're in it, mirror of God's Word. 00:21:46.530 --> 00:21:48.836 God is showing you you. 00:21:48.836 --> 00:21:52.931 He's showing you you, not your friend, you. 00:21:52.931 --> 00:21:58.102 That's the first hurdle you've got to get over. 00:21:58.102 --> 00:22:04.671 He's talking to you, not your husband, not your wife. 00:22:04.671 --> 00:22:05.952 When you're in it. 00:22:05.952 --> 00:22:06.953 He's talking to you. 00:22:06.953 --> 00:22:10.458 It's a mirror. 00:22:10.458 --> 00:22:12.881 Do you see yourself? 00:22:12.881 --> 00:22:14.549 Can you see yourself? 00:22:14.549 --> 00:22:23.556 He's showing you you and what you must do. 00:22:23.556 --> 00:22:34.150 If you don't respond in humility and then walk away and forget it, no joy coming. 00:22:34.150 --> 00:22:36.676 That's it, end of the matter. 00:22:36.676 --> 00:22:39.170 Close the book. 00:22:40.826 --> 00:22:46.846 However, james said you know what, if you see yourself there I am. 00:22:46.846 --> 00:22:47.429 That's me. 00:22:47.429 --> 00:22:48.632 That's my sin. 00:22:48.632 --> 00:22:53.386 That's where I need to work on Whoa. 00:22:53.386 --> 00:22:54.607 That's me. 00:22:54.607 --> 00:23:04.843 It humbles me and if you humbly believe and do what it says, you will be blessed. 00:23:04.843 --> 00:23:06.244 Joy. 00:23:06.244 --> 00:23:09.153 I know you don't believe me. 00:23:09.153 --> 00:23:11.059 Hang on. 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:14.410 James 1, 21 to 25. 00:23:14.490 --> 00:23:19.240 Therefore, james is putting aside all filthiness and all the remains of wickedness. 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:36.820 In humility, receive the word implanted you to you, which is able to save your souls, but prove yourselves doers of the word, not just a hearer who deludes themselves. 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:42.635 If anyone's a hearer and not a doer, it's like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror. 00:23:42.635 --> 00:23:48.722 Once he's looked at himself and gone away, you've immediately forgotten what kind of person he was Exactly. 00:23:48.722 --> 00:23:52.400 He's showing you what kind of person you are. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:55.576 He wants you to respond. 00:23:55.576 --> 00:24:08.901 Grow through this trial, but the one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed. 00:24:08.901 --> 00:24:16.832 There we go, if we. 00:24:16.832 --> 00:24:23.763 When you go through a trial I'll say this later you must be in God's Word. 00:24:23.763 --> 00:24:27.178 It's the only way you'll get His perspective. 00:24:27.178 --> 00:24:29.978 You're not going to get your joy on your own. 00:24:29.978 --> 00:24:37.210 If we receive the Word of God with a humble meekness, our faith will grow mature. 00:24:37.210 --> 00:24:46.599 Our heart will be filled with joy, because God has given us a confidence about who he is, what he's doing, from His Word that we planted within us. 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:59.044 Now I'm going to tell you where I first discovered this principle. 00:24:59.044 --> 00:25:05.682 A little personal story that stayed with me to this day. 00:25:05.682 --> 00:25:16.001 It's why I believe it so sincerely. 00:25:19.611 --> 00:25:36.723 As a freshman at Michigan State University, I came to faith in Christ and was discipled by a ministry called the Navigators, and as I grew in my faith, I eventually became a campus leader with the Navigators at Michigan State. 00:25:36.723 --> 00:25:39.798 I absolutely loved their ministry. 00:25:39.798 --> 00:25:50.840 I loved it so much I wanted to go on staff with them after I graduated and I jumped through every hoop they put out there. 00:25:50.840 --> 00:26:02.519 I wanted to be the best disciple, I wanted to be the best navigator possible and I was hoping and assuming they would invite me to join the leadership and staff of the Navigators. 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:23.018 Well, the summer I graduated, I needed to figure out what to do, so I drove five hours, set up a meeting with the regional director of the Navigators, drove five hours to meet up with them, and met with them after a short conversation and I asked him you know, I'd really like to go on a stand-by. 00:26:23.018 --> 00:26:28.154 This is what he said to me the navigators have no place for you. 00:26:28.154 --> 00:26:45.161 Huh, thanks for coming over, jim Bye, crushed, crushed. 00:26:45.161 --> 00:27:07.555 Let me take you on my journey home for five hours as I pass through James 1 in reverse order, all the wrong responses to my trial, all of them, you see. 00:27:10.861 --> 00:27:16.699 First, I not only was disappointed, I was fuming, mad, angry. 00:27:16.699 --> 00:27:21.215 What Not to be asked to go on set. 00:27:21.215 --> 00:27:25.501 I'd given four years of my life immersed in the ministry. 00:27:25.501 --> 00:27:28.479 I became the very best navigator on campus. 00:27:28.479 --> 00:27:38.202 Then I started blaming God for my sad state of affairs. 00:27:38.202 --> 00:27:44.971 Okay, well, why on earth did I come to faith in Christ through this wonderful ministry? 00:27:44.971 --> 00:27:47.034 And then you just cut me off. 00:27:47.034 --> 00:27:50.178 What's the logic of that? 00:27:50.178 --> 00:27:55.405 Doubts, blame. 00:27:59.611 --> 00:28:04.623 Third, when I was rejected and hurt, you know what? 00:28:04.623 --> 00:28:04.951 It's? 00:28:04.951 --> 00:28:06.076 Because of my pride. 00:28:06.076 --> 00:28:09.619 Pride reared its face. 00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:24.484 You rejected me Me who's been trained to be the best, spent years of my life being equipped to do this, and you're rejecting me. 00:28:24.484 --> 00:28:33.355 I was one of the best student workers you ever had. 00:28:33.355 --> 00:28:36.262 Pride, pride. 00:28:36.262 --> 00:28:40.896 Fourth, I started doubting God. 00:28:40.896 --> 00:28:43.261 What are you doing? 00:28:43.261 --> 00:28:46.539 This makes no sense whatsoever. 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:52.276 I wasn't trusting him, I was questioning him. 00:28:52.276 --> 00:28:54.092 He's in the. 00:28:54.092 --> 00:28:56.398 I'm in the judgment seat. 00:28:56.398 --> 00:29:02.796 You see, this is crazy, my dream. 00:29:02.796 --> 00:29:07.054 I look forward to this, worked hard on it. 00:29:07.054 --> 00:29:18.756 Why, well, do I need to tell you there was zero joy, zero zilch, no joy whatsoever. 00:29:18.756 --> 00:29:28.913 Started my five-hour drive home, working through all of this anger, blaming, pride, doubting. 00:29:28.913 --> 00:29:33.460 But you know what? 00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:45.550 Being a good navigator saved me from myself myself. 00:29:45.550 --> 00:29:46.595 I'll tell you why. 00:29:46.634 --> 00:29:49.729 Scripture memory was a key part of the Navigator ministry. 00:29:49.729 --> 00:29:53.771 I memorized hundreds and hundreds of verses. 00:29:53.771 --> 00:29:54.712 I had to write them on a little card like this. 00:29:54.712 --> 00:30:04.891 I had hundreds of them in a little rectangular box, all according from Genesis to Revelation verses. 00:30:04.891 --> 00:30:12.442 I'd memorized hundreds and hundreds over four years, and so my habit was, you know, when I'm taking a long drive, one thing to make the most of the time. 00:30:12.442 --> 00:30:12.843 I'm just. 00:30:12.843 --> 00:30:18.618 This is another thing I learned from the Navigator I'm just going to make the most of my time and review the verses I'd memorized. 00:30:18.618 --> 00:30:19.714 That way I keep them going. 00:30:24.611 --> 00:30:32.582 Just got out my box as I started to drive and, beginning in Genesis, I started to review the verses that I memorized. 00:30:32.582 --> 00:30:43.255 Ironically, the first verse I came to I'm not kidding was Genesis 4, 6, and 7, where God says to Cain why are you angry? 00:30:43.255 --> 00:30:45.637 Why has your countenance fallen? 00:30:45.637 --> 00:30:48.080 If you do well, will you not be accepted? 00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:50.203 But be careful. 00:30:50.203 --> 00:30:51.865 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:30:51.865 --> 00:30:57.519 Its desire is for you, but you must master it. 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:59.388 Genesis 4, 6, and 7. 00:30:59.388 --> 00:31:06.923 Okay, I keep driving, verse after verse after verse after verse. 00:31:08.451 --> 00:31:09.333 One hour goes by. 00:31:09.333 --> 00:31:13.682 I'm still hot, I'm still proud, I'm still blaming, I'm still doubting. 00:31:13.682 --> 00:31:16.796 One hour Scripture going through my mind. 00:31:16.796 --> 00:31:21.393 Two hours go by, then three. 00:31:21.393 --> 00:31:32.247 All the way through, all the way through, not all the way through. 00:31:32.247 --> 00:31:36.099 I didn't even finish, but four hours into reviewing verses that God had me memorize. 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:40.175 That's why I'm plugging memorize the scripture. 00:31:40.175 --> 00:31:46.421 You're going to need it If you think you might go through a trial sometime. 00:31:48.530 --> 00:31:54.523 Four hours, at four hours, I began to notice God was ministering to me through his word. 00:31:54.523 --> 00:31:59.478 I began to release my anger. 00:31:59.478 --> 00:32:15.940 I began to really be humbled by seeing myself in the Scripture, I began to realize no, god is sovereign, he knew what he was doing, even if I didn't. 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:30.222 And when I got back into town this is a true story such a profound impact on my life when I got back into town five hours later, I literally was singing for joy. 00:32:30.222 --> 00:32:36.880 I was I'm not kidding Praise songs, hymns coming to mind. 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:38.480 I'm praising God. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.025 I'm singing for joy. 00:32:39.025 --> 00:32:39.569 I'm praising God. 00:32:39.569 --> 00:32:53.683 I'm singing for joy, knowing I was in God's hands and I really was looking forward to what new plan he had for me. 00:32:53.683 --> 00:33:00.432 And I didn't know what it was, I was just confident he had it. 00:33:00.432 --> 00:33:15.546 I cannot explain my complete transformation from anger, doubts, blame, pride, except from the extended conversation God was having with me in his word of life. 00:33:15.546 --> 00:33:23.298 It changed me. 00:33:23.979 --> 00:33:26.883 Now let's go back to the non sequitur that James began with. 00:33:26.883 --> 00:33:31.511 James' first sentence piques our interest. 00:33:31.511 --> 00:33:35.537 How do trials elicit joy? 00:33:35.537 --> 00:33:49.740 Well, to experience that joy a little taste, we must view the trial from God's perspective, and we only get that from His Word. 00:33:49.740 --> 00:34:00.436 Joy makes no sense unless we do that, no sense whatsoever. 00:34:00.436 --> 00:34:18.938 If we haven't experienced joy in various trials, the reason may be that our faith has not yet come to a place where you've really engaged God in conversation and His Word and understood Him or His work in our lives, what he's trying to do or how His Word relates to our situation. 00:34:18.938 --> 00:34:30.659 Maybe we've been responding all the wrong ways to not get joy, and that's very common. 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:34.918 We all need spiritual growth. 00:34:38.193 --> 00:34:44.003 You know what Jesus' faith in God the Father, as James said, as Rook and Peter said was perfect. 00:34:44.003 --> 00:34:56.865 As a result, he endured the trial of the cross with joy because he understood God's perspective. 00:34:56.865 --> 00:35:03.322 You see, he knew that God was using this trial in his life to save us. 00:35:03.322 --> 00:35:11.639 He knew that God had promised to glorify him and provided the means of our salvation through the trial. 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:23.480 He was enduring Hebrews 12, to look to Jesus, the founder, perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:35:26.610 --> 00:35:41.342 If you're currently going through a trial or a temptation, I urge you to do two things immediately Get yourself in God's Word, immerse yourself in it with an open heart and mind. 00:35:41.342 --> 00:35:52.643 God wants to show you you Listen for God's perspective of your situation and how you should respond. 00:35:52.643 --> 00:36:08.286 Second, start praying in faith, lamenting or crying or whatever to God, reminding yourselves of God's promises and the biblical truths of God's character he's sovereign, he's good. 00:36:08.286 --> 00:36:19.914 Okay, well, this summer God has invited us to enjoy his manifold blessings when we follow these statements. 00:36:19.914 --> 00:36:23.490 Blessed is the one he allows us to taste a bit of heaven. 00:36:23.490 --> 00:36:29.771 Now, I can remember that day, driving back into town from that five-hour drive, I tasted a little bit of heaven. 00:36:29.771 --> 00:36:31.576 I was excited. 00:36:31.576 --> 00:36:33.880 Wow, this is going to be an adventure. 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:44.251 I don't know what God has In the passages we've looked at, this is where God has promised to bless us Psalm 1, when we meditate on God's word. 00:36:44.630 --> 00:36:48.378 Psalm 127, when we received good gifts from God. 00:36:48.378 --> 00:36:51.545 Psalm 32, when we receive God's forgiveness. 00:36:51.545 --> 00:36:55.916 Luke 14, when we humble ourselves and serve others. 00:36:55.916 --> 00:36:59.143 Psalm 34, when we take refuge in the Lord. 00:36:59.143 --> 00:37:03.344 Psalm 40, when we put our complete trust in the Lord. 00:37:03.344 --> 00:37:07.199 Psalm 84, when our heart is immersed in worshiping God. 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:11.431 So Isaiah 30, when we wait on the Lord and receive his strength. 00:37:11.431 --> 00:37:21.554 And James 1, when we persevere under trials by praying, listening, believing and doing God's word. 00:37:21.554 --> 00:37:26.003 It's the double blessing persevering and doing. 00:37:26.003 --> 00:37:41.003 But the greatest blessing of all is the one we began with accepting God's invitation to join Him in heaven around a table to celebrate the joy of our salvation because of Jesus' atonement made for us. 00:37:41.849 --> 00:37:43.956 Revelation 19, 7 to 9,. 00:37:43.956 --> 00:37:49.697 Let us rejoice and be glad, give glory to him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come. 00:37:49.697 --> 00:37:51.742 His bride has made herself ready. 00:37:51.742 --> 00:37:59.132 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 00:37:59.132 --> 00:38:05.014 Then he said to me write blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 00:38:05.014 --> 00:38:08.402 And he said these are true words of God. 00:38:09.329 --> 00:38:32.257 It's interesting earlier in the book of Revelation, jesus is speaking to the church in Laodicea, who have been going through various trials, and he uses the analogy of a door that we have to open in order to receive Jesus' presence in our life during whatever we're facing. 00:38:32.257 --> 00:38:34.481 Revelation 3, 19 and 20,. 00:38:34.481 --> 00:38:40.719 Jesus said this those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:42.362 I'm going to take them through trials. 00:38:42.362 --> 00:38:47.673 Therefore, be zealous and repent. 00:38:47.673 --> 00:38:54.224 When you see you here, behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:38:54.224 --> 00:38:58.153 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I'm going to come into him. 00:38:58.153 --> 00:38:58.695 Dine with him, he with me. 00:38:58.695 --> 00:39:00.556 I'm going to come into him, dine with him, he with me. 00:39:01.277 --> 00:39:09.365 Well, let me ask you this have you ever opened the door of life, of your life, to Jesus. 00:39:09.365 --> 00:39:19.369 Have you believed in him as the Son of God who was sent to be your Savior? 00:39:19.369 --> 00:39:25.197 When we do that, jesus has promised to send the Holy Spirit into our life to be with us as our comforter, our counselor, forever. 00:39:25.197 --> 00:39:27.443 Paul mentions this in Galatians 3.14,. 00:39:27.443 --> 00:39:39.434 In Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham has come to the Gentiles by the way, we're Gentiles so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 00:39:39.434 --> 00:39:50.101 God gives us his joy, not just as a result of the trials, but as a result of knowing him, his presence in our life. 00:39:50.101 --> 00:39:58.802 Through Jesus Christ, let's pray, father, thank you that in your presence, your word says there is fullness of joy. 00:39:58.802 --> 00:40:09.737 I pray that each person here, each one of us, might experience a little taste of heaven as we follow what your word has taught us about your manifold blessings. 00:40:09.737 --> 00:40:20.981 Would you help us to become living non-sequiturs as testimonies to those around us that Jesus gives us joy even in our trials? 00:40:20.981 --> 00:40:23.518 I pray in Jesus' name, amen.