Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
Each morning we awake to face the giants that we find in our lives.
[Slide 2]
Question: How does God answer prayer?
Transition: Deep down we know that God is listening, deep down we know that we need God to answer our prayers, to tackle the giants, the trials, the tribulations that we face in our lives?
But how, how exactly does God answer our prayers?
As we seek to answer that question, let’s all acknowledge that...
We may not know exactly how God answers prayers but we sure know that we need him too answer them!
I. Life Is Full Of Trials
A. And As God’s People We Too Go Through Tough Times
I want to introduce you to a group of people in our passage, a people who, like many of us, found themselves in a difficult place in life: [Slide 3]
“James” - Biological brother of Jesus and elder/pastor of the first church in Jerusalem ()
“To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” - These were Christians of Jewish origin who once lived within Israel, most likely in or around Jerusalem (49-50 A.D.)
but were now living outside Palestine
They had accepted Christ as their Savior but very quickly thereafter had to flee Jerusalem b/c of trials they were facing (cf.
Acts 6)
Now they were living outside Palestine
These trials included not only persecution (physical abuse), but also loosing their jobs, homes, relationships, etc.
Now they were living outside Palestine, away from their homes and families
It’s it interesting that these individuals made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus and this is what happened to them, they still faced trials in life.
Quote: "The trials of life often shake our faith and cause us to let up in service.
In other words, hardships and difficulties can diminish the reality of religion.
James wrote to help his readers have such reality."
"The trials of life often shake our faith and cause us to let up in service.
In other words, hardships and difficulties can diminish the reality of religion.
James wrote to help his readers have such reality."
Transition: But this is to be expected, we live in a fallen/broken world.
We can be good stewards, proactive in our planning and preparation, play it safe as much as we want but we all know, there is nothing we can do to stop trials from coming.
Though they often shake our faith and cause us to want to let up in serving God, we cannot allow them to get the best of us.
When the trials come, we must be very careful to realize that...
often shake our faith and cause us to let up in service.
In other words, hardships and difficulties can diminish the reality of religion.
James wrote to help his readers have such reality."
In other words, hardships and difficulties can diminish the reality of religion.
James wrote to help his readers have such reality."
II.
What Matters Most Is How We Approach Them
[Slide 4]
We Are Responsible For Our Response To Trials
A. Consider It Joy When You Face Trials
[Slide 5]
1
A.
A. Consider It Joy When You Face Trials
Honestly that sounds kind of weird, doesn’t it?
But it is one of the hardest lessons to learn in the Christian life - we are to be joyful in the midst of pain and suffering
It’s not that the trials themselves that we are to find joy in but rather the possible results that God could do through them
Transition: This means that, through God’s eyes and in God’s plans...
B. Our Trials Are Not Meaningless
[Slide 6]
They Are God’s Way Of Bringing Us To Spiritual Maturity
Trials are God’s way of bringing His people to spiritual maturity!
[Slide 7]
Trials are God’s way of bringing His people to spiritual maturity!
This means that, throughout life, our faith must grow
We start with a small faith, but as we live the Christian life our faith becomes stronger, enabling us to trust God more and more (Illustration - Muscle growth)
As the disciples once did, so too must we ask God to increase our faith ().
This He will do by bringing us through various trials.
As we do this, our faith will produce perseverance/endurance so that:
We will be “mature and complete”
This He will do by bringing us through various trials so that our faith will produce the steadfastness of perseverance, guaranteeing that our sanctification will be completed in glory."
Not without fear and pride, just able to not let our reactions stem from those emotions
As we go through this ongoing process of trails, exercising our faith produces “perseverance” (endurance)
As the disciples once did, so too must we ask God to increase our faith ().
This He will do by bringing us through various trials.
Transition: But let’s be honest, it’s hard to have this kind of outlook during tough times in our life.
That’s where prayer comes in, for James tells us that...
III.
God Will Help Us To Face Trials Ahead If We Ask Him
A. Sometimes The Trial Is To Big For Us To Handle
[Slide 8]
“If any of you lacks wisdom” = Humility
James 1:5
So James tells us to - “Ask God” for wisdom
B. Thankfully God Is Gracious To Hear And Answer
Universal Truths about God answering prayer:
God “gives to all generously”
God gives “without reproach”
If we ask, “it will be given” to us
James knew that trials are often taken as a sign of God’s displeasure, so he tells us to - “Ask God” for wisdom
“Ask” literally can be translated - ‘ask of God continually’
We need “wisdom” - Difference between wisdom and knowledge
Difference between wisdom and knowledge
Therefore he tells us to.
Knowledge is Intellectual; Wisdom is Practical
Wisdom is Practical
Knowledge is informational; Wisdom is Application
Illustration: Having wisdom in life is a lot like driving a car.
We are driving along, and suddenly someone darts out in front of us (Maine drivers), or a huge pothole appears.
In those situations, we must know how to respond in such a way that we are able to preserve our lives and the lives of others.
The trials and difficulties of life are much like the driver who pulls in front of us or the potholes in the road.
We are driving along the roadway of life, and suddenly a trial comes.
We need wisdom to respond to that trial.
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