The greatest test of faith is when you don't get what you want, but are still able to say, Thank You, Lord.

James 1:1-2

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Our goal is to glorify God in any way and use our talents to their full potential. God uses trials to strengthen and complete us. It's what God wants for us. Does God permit us to test us to make us stronger? The lessons are timing. Are you stronger in Christ?

He uses us. There is exciting and motivating work. How about our individual growth in Christ? When life is difficult, can you make lemonade out of it? Through faith, he can be victorious. Be perfect by taking trials into triumphs. Learn how with these 4 commands:

1. Consider (count) joyful attitude
2. Know - understanding mind
3. Let - surrendered will
4. Ask - trusting heart

James 1:1-8 Consider it joy!

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Christianity is a thinking religion. Emotion from the truth because it's the truth it focuses on feeling.

Hebrews 12:2 who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 3:7-16 Counted as loss for the sake of Christ. I count all things to be lost. Count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. Is it worth it on what you measure up?

Verse 12 has not already become perfect. (Fully mature, reached the goal) but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold for Christ Jesus. Perfect (mature) have this attitude.

Are you mature? Mature people can see things spiritually.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

2 Cor. 4:16-5:1

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

We evaluate and need to train ourselves to look beyond the physical.

1. Consider (count) the trials or tests. Trials or tests - God uses them to make us stronger. The temptations Satan uses to break us. God wants me to respond in a way to makes me stronger. Consider it all joy.

John 16:33 Take courage, I have overcome the world.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you.

2 Tim. 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

2. We come to know things in a different light.

James 1:3 Knowing that faith is always tested. Test us to be genuine. Producing endurance and patience. Impatient people are more susceptible to sin. Why? We don't want to wait and drive by the strong desires.

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

3. Let... surrendered will.

James 1:4 is perfect and complete lacking in nothing. We must decide what is more important to us.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

4. Ask - James 1:5 lack wisdom? His in faith, trusting heart. Ask for wisdom!

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

To be perfect is to see with spiritual eyes the real world.

James 1:9-11 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wildflower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

The real reward. James 1:12 Receive the crown of life. A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. A popular quote of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Lord make me stronger.

Develop my wisdom and strength to see the real reward.

A prayer I say daily as I focus on wisdom. Great thoughts in the sermon given by John Kilgore. Listen to it here.

Share your thoughts and how you turn your trials into triumphs.