Enduring Suffering
Pulpit Fill • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsEnduring trials and suffering for the cause of Christ brings God glory as we find satisfaction in Him rather than our own strength.
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Overarching Theme: Enduring trials and suffering for the cause of Christ brings God glory as we find satisfaction in Him rather than our own strength.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Two axiom stand out to me:
1. You will face trials. and
2. Trials are an opportunity to grow.
This passage in James reminds me of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Recently, I had a conversation with one of my brothers in Christ regarding the American Church being ill equipped/prepared for suffering. If you think about it, in what way have you suffered for the cause of Christ? When was the last time you were reviled and persecuted on His account?
Jesus spoke to His disciples regarding persecution in John 15.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Digest that for a moment. What kind of persecution did Jesus endure? He, the Creator, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” [Phil. 2:6-8]. He endured the cross! What have you endured? Have you ever had the Most High, Everlasting Father totally abandon and utterly forsake you? [Matt. 27:46]. Jesus did, for your sake and mine. 2 Cor. 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Have you ever been forced to choose between professing Christ or living? Not likely. The Church in many countries face this situation daily; but not here, not now. Perhaps, given the choices of some to restrict Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion we could find ourselves persecuted. And yes, I know, many of American believers would say that they would never turn our backs on our faith… do you remember the plight of the disciples?
27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
We often make the same claim as Peter, “I will not deny you.” but when trials come will we fall for the temptation to reject Him or will we endure the persecution come what may? While Jesus was explaining the meaning of the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8
He said, (picking up in verse 9)…
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
“And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. “ (vs 13)
My friends, we will have times trials. Maybe not the life and death trials, but other trials will come our way, Jesus said so.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Our roots must run deep to prepare us for the time of testing, and so James says,
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Count - the Greek is ἡγέομαι hɛː.ɡé.o.mai̯ which means to engage in an intellectual process, to think, to consider, to regard, or to lead, to guide, to supervise.
Believing in Christ is said by the world that we are dumb followers of a dead fanatic. Why follow a 2000+ yr. old book? Yet James says hɛ.ɡé.o.mai̯ Think, engage in the intellectual process, lead, guide, consider, count… why? Because the Spirit of God resides within you and will teach you all things. Things that are beyond the thoughts of men. Things like how to have joy in the midst of trials. This is how you put down roots.
Illustration: The Shepherd's tree, native to the Kalahari Desert, has the deepest documented roots: more than 70 meters, or 230 feet, deep. Their depth was discovered accidentally by drillers of groundwater wells. Because of its roots, the Shepherd’s tree can withstand long periods without rain. The depth of your roots will determine your ability to withstand trials. Joy is not a by-product of your circumstances, it is in spite of your circumstances. It is the fruit you bear because your roots are deep.
Turn with me to Acts 16. You might recall the account of Paul and Silas in Philippi when they were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel to the financial loss of some slave owners. They were brought before the magistrates…
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Now, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think I’d be of mind or spirit after having been falsely accused, beaten, charged, and imprisoned, to sing hymns to God. My flesh would have been boiling. I would have been self-absorbed weeping depressed. I would have felt all alone and my prayers would have reflected the shallow depth of my roots. That’s me. I don’t know what you would have done. I’ll have to let you make that assessment. But Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… to them this was just another mission field… and the prisoners were listening to them. Not only the prisoners, but we learn that through this trial the Philippian jailer was too; and he and his house were saved.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Various trials (Point #1- You will face trials.) - You and I may never be imprisoned or beaten or falsely accused because of our faith, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t find ourselves on display while encountering trials. How you respond is a witness to the world around you. Count it all joy. Every day you live is a testimony to the glory of God in your life. It bears witness to the power of the gospel to change a heart of stone to one of flesh that can be molded, by the trial, into the likeness of Christ.
Not only are trials to be joyous occasions because we bear witness, James also notes that trials are the means of teaching us (Point #2- Trials are an opportunity to grow.)
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I don’t think I’m bursting anyone’s bubble here by saying, “You are NOT perfect.” Today, you are not perfect. No one is perfect. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23) But God’s love is demonstrated in His call to the elect and justifying those who call on the Name of the Lord (Rom 5:8).
James then encourages his readers, Christian Jews dispersed due to the persecution of Church, to “Count it all joy” because God is at work in you through the trials you are facing. May I encourage you with the same truth; God is at work in you through the trials you are facing. The testing of your faith produces steadfastness [ὑπομονή (hy.po.mo.nɛ̌): the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances—‘endurance, being able to endure’; ‘endurance’ such as Paul spoke of in 1 Thessalonians…
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
APPLICATION:
So what? The means to endure is to be an imitator of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi…
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Earlier in this epistle, Paul encouraged the church of this certainty, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6) So, all glory be to God we will, one day, be perfected. All glory be to God we will one day be perfected!
Jesus Christ is at work in us reconciling us to Himself and demonstrating His love to the whole world. Paul breaks down the process in Rom 5.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
That reconciliation seen in steadfastness/endurance through the trials, as we put our trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, will have its full effect, you and I being made perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Right now, I lack a lot of things. I lack faith. There are times when I want to take control and get things done because God’s timing isn’t aligned with mine. Anybody with me? Don’t answer that. It was rhetorical. I lack love for my neighbor. I don’t take every opportunity to share Christ that is afforded me. Sometimes my wants over-shadow their needs. I don’t love God, not the way I should. I am an idolater. I allow my wants and desires to surpass my obedience and love for the Father. I could go on, but let’s just say, I am not perfect. News flash, neither are you. But praise be to God, one day the elect will be made perfect.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Until then… I’m not perfect yet, so how am I to live? James gives us clear truth: remain steadfast.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
RESULT:
The reward is the crown of life. This crown is mentioned in only one other passage
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
In this passage Christ urged the church in Smyrna to remain steadfast through trials. He invites His bride to lean into Him. To trust Him.
I recently wrapped up a study by Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane called How People Change. They encouraged believers to live with an eternal perspective considering how that should affect us now.
Think about that. If we live with eternity in mind; as perfected, glorified, co-heirs with Christ, who endured the suffering penalty of our sin on the cross, can we endure the brief amount of discomfort any trial brings our way?
My final thought is found in the prayer of Jesus located in John 17, where He prayed specifically for you and I.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Our completion in Christ comes when we become one with Him and with the Father.
PRAY
Lord, may I find satisfaction and completion in you, so that you may be glorified through me. Amen.
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