Sermon Cloud

REAL MATURITY

Hang In There

Posters - PERSEVERE

James 1:2-4

Just verse 2 (two)

• Trials are temptations (tests). Challenges to faith, trust. Do you trust God completely? A trial is anything that tests our trust in God.
• whenever you face trials Trials WILL happen. Not "if" but "when".
• trials of many kinds Greek is "multi-colored" Trials come in many COLORS, SHAPES, FLAVORS, WAYS

By the way, trials are unexpected. Greek for face is "fall into." Like the good Samaritan story: the person "fell into" the hands of robbers. When you fall into various trials.

Sure, there are the temptations we're familiar with:

Buying stuff we can't afford

Staring at someone's body

Looking down on people

Other temptations, tests of our faith.

Wanting to fix someone's problems, clean up their sins.

Wonder if someone you care about will live to see another day.

Letter in the mail "Your income will end next month."

James 1:2-4 (NIV)

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Testing = refined by fire.

Steel is strong, right? It's made of iron ore. How hot do they get the iron to make steel?

Iron in fire is purified. The leftovers are used to make roads and roof shingles. Not pure items.

Can you imagine a steel beam with road rocks in it? Or the pebbles from roof shingles? Not as strong as pure steel.

Whatever survives through the fire, the testing is pure, strong stuff. Whenever our trust in God is tested, and when it's over we still trust God, we are more pure. The leftover rocks have been cooked out and we are stronger.

Perseverance leads to my STRENGTH

We're supposed to Consider it pure joy because the trials develop perseverance, and "Perseverance leads to my STRENGTH"

It also "leads to my MATURITY (COMPLETION)" (verse 4)

James 1:12 (NIV)

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Perseverance leads to my CROWN.

Wreath at the games = gold medal.

Everyone who finishes the race wins the race.

Let's talk some more about these trials, these temptations.

James doesn't want us to be deceived-tricked-because we don't know about trials and perseverance.

James 1:13-15

Temptations come from MY DESIRES

I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "God is testing me." Sometimes they're right, but sometimes they're wrong. Think about the situation. God doesn't say "Do good." And then whisper "Wouldn't you like to do evil?

James 1:16-18

Every good and perfect gift comes from GOD

This is so hard to remember!

We're supposed to remind each other of the truth.

When you are tempted to stop trusting God, you need someone to talk to.

When you are struggling with old sins and old desires, you need someone you can trust.

You need SMALL GROUPS!

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth

James 1:22-25, 27

To persevere under trial, I need to

DO GOD'S WORD