Preached by Pastor Mike Hess Sunday morning 11/08/2009.
A slave is someone with no inherent rights…a piece of property to be bought, sold and used (Jay Adams)
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 1 Timothy 1:15
II. Supernatural Joy (1:2)
“James is commending the conscious embrace of a Christian understanding of life which brings joy into the trials that come because of out Christianity.” R.Kent Hughes
“In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.” 2 Corinthians 7:4
“and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." Acts 5:40-41
2 Ways to Look at suffering:
1. We can look at it inwardly and think that we deserve better.
2. Or, we could embrace God’s sovereignty over every situation in life.
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
III. The Pathway to Maturity (4:3-4)
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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." Romans 5:3-5
The end result (verse 4b) – being perfect and complete – lacking nothing
Practical Application:
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
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