The Blessing of Endurance
James 1:12
September 28, 2014
Tonight we study one of the truly powerful verses in the whole Bible.
It is a verse packed full of sound theology and practical application.
To understand this verse is
To not only have an understanding of what genuine salvation is,
But also to understand what genuine salvation expects.
I pray that God will grant us each a deep understanding of this verse.
Now, as you know we are studying the book of James
And James has begun his letter on the THEME OF SUFFERING.
He is writing to those who are:
• “dispersed abroad” (1)
• “encounter[ing] various trials” (2)
• “lack[ing] wisdom” (5)
• In “humble circumstances” (9)
• Suffering “humiliation” (10)
These people are being hammered.
And in the midst of this suffering James has told them to
• “Consider it all joy” (2)
• “ask in faith” (6)
• “glory” (9)
Obviously those responses are not the natural human response.
James is asking for much more from us than the natural human response.
James wants us to be like Jesus.
Now for the first 11 verses, James’ instruction has had a common theme.
It has all dealt with our PERCEPTION
All of his instruction has dealt with how you view your trials.
But tonight James takes another step forward
And moves beyond perception to perseverance.
James spend 11 verses on right thinking, now he moves to right action.
And of course the right action is perseverance.
We are talking about “a man who perseveres under trial;”
• He is not just a man who rejoices when a trial comes
• He is not just a man who asks for wisdom in a trial
• He is not just a man who glories in his trial
He is “a man who perseveres under trial;”
We are not just talking about what you should THINK,
We are talking about what you should DO.
Before get into the verse too much, I want to take a minute and clarify what we are talking about when we talk about trials and perseverance.
The word “trial” here translates PEIRASMOS (pay-ras-mos)
And it is a word that James uses several times in this first chapter.
James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”
James 1:13-14 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”
When we talked about trials a couple of weeks ago in our study of verse 2 we didn’t really differentiate this much, but it’s important that we do before we go any further.
We often times read the word “trials” and instantly think of
The hard things we are going through in life.
And that is not necessarily wrong.
For hardships that we face are a form of trial.
But James doesn’t just have in mind difficult things that cause you pain.
James is talking about difficult things that challenge your faith.
He is talking about things that cause you to sin.
In fact this word is more commonly translated as
“temptations” or “tempt” or “tempted”
Luke 4:13 “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”
1 Corinthians 7:5 “Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”
Those aren’t instances where the Devil made Jesus suffer a hardship,
Or causes you to suffer a difficulty,
Those were instances where the Devil tempts you to sin.
And that is what James is talking about.
That is why he will say later:
James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”
James is talking about temptations.
Now certainly trials can be a temptation.
• Especially if that trial tempts you to turn away from God or deny the faith.
But James is talking about temptation to sin, not just things that are hard.
And it is important for you to understand that
Because that effects what type of perseverance James wants.
If all James is referring to is every day hardships,
Then perseverance is nothing more than just surviving it.
But that is not what James is talking about.
He’s talking about persevering through temptation.
So in James’ mind
• It’s you refusing to sin in the midst of your temptation.
• It’s you persevering in holiness even though you are tempted to fall.
• It’s you clinging to faith, even when circumstances don’t make sense.
It’s not just staying alive or continuing to move forward,
It is maintaining your integrity in the midst of temptation.
• It could be a temptation to commit immorality…
• It could be a temptation to grow bitter…
• It could be a temptation of greed…
• It could be a temptation to leave the faith…
But regardless of the various temptation,
He perseveres and stands strong.
That is the guy we are talking about:
“a man who perseveres under trial;”
Tonight I want to show you blessing it is to be that type of person.
• When you are tempted to sin…
• When you are tempted to fall away…
• When you are tempted to quit…
• But you choose instead to stay in the will of God…
I want to show you why that is the better choice by far!
In this verse there are three things I want you to see about this
“man who perseveres under trial;”
#1 IT PROVES REALNESS
James 1:12
He said that the man who perseveres is blessed
“for once he has been approved”
Now there is a unique thought.
This temptation, this trial, was in fact a test.
The temptation did not come from God, for He does not do that,
However He does examine the results.
And the man who perseveres through the trial
Is said to have “been approved”
IN OTHER WORDS, HE PASSED THE TEST.
And you need to understand this.
We live in a day where people suppose that
Claiming to have faith is enough.
If you say you believe, then no one is ever supposed to question that.
Does it surprise you to know that even God doesn’t take it at face value?
Does it surprise you to know that your faith must be proved?
When people approached Jesus and claimed to believe,
He didn’t just accept it.
John 8:30-32 “As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
They claimed to believe, but Jesus said,
“We’ll see…if you continue then we’ll know you are really disciples of Mine”
Their faith had to be proved.
Remember the church at Smyrna?
Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Notice what Peter said:
1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”
Or again:
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
Do you hear what Peter is saying?
We run from trials and temptations like they are the worst thing imaginable, but THEY ARE NECESSARY!
You will not be allowed to claim faith in this life
And have it accepted at face value.
Remember Abraham?
Genesis 22:1-2 “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
I thought God didn’t tempt?
He doesn’t, God asked Abraham for obedience, He didn’t tempt him to sin.
Those are two drastically different things.
But Abraham’s faith had to be tested.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19 “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.”
There’s a difficult verse.
While we do not want divisions in the church,
We understand that they are necessary to reveal who is real and who is not.
The point being is that faith must be tested!
Because if the trial or temptation pulls you away,
It reveals the flaws in your faith.
Remember this guy?
Luke 8:13 “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.”
Had it not been for the temptation,
You would have never known he wasn’t real.
John said it like this:
1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”
It was the temptation that revealed the flaws in their faith.
Temptations come to prove your faith.
And the person “who perseveres under trial…has been approved,”
SO FOLLOW ME HERE.
• This person was tempted, and they chose holiness.
• They chose to resist temptation and thus proved their faith genuine.
Do you understand how important holiness is to your claim of salvation?
Do you understand that turning from sin is a staple to Christianity?
So many today think they can be a Christian
And yet succumb to every sin as though it is no big deal…
BUT IT IS A BIG DEAL!
YOUR FAITH IS PROVED WHEN YOU RESIST TEMPTATION.
And incidentally, if you are real, you can!
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
God makes sure you can resist.
So this man persevered and “he has been approved”
BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT DID GOD SEE IN THIS MAN THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR?
That’s easy, look at the end of this verse.
This man “will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Notice he didn’t say, “which the Lord has promised to those who persevere.”
See James identifies what type of person
Who perseveres in the midst of temptation.
James reveals what type of person chooses holiness instead of sin.
James reveals what type of person sticks with Jesus through hardship.
What type of person does that?
“those who love Him.”
THAT IS WHAT IS BEING TESTED.
When you face temptations…
When you face trials…
Do you know what we are trying to find out?
DO YOU LOVE JESUS?
• Do you love Him more than your sin?
• Do you love Him more than your comfort?
• Do you love Him more than yourself?
Because loving Jesus is the fundamental fruit of the truly saved.
Matthew 10:37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
After Peter blew it and denied the Lord.
When Jesus reinstated him, He didn’t ask, “Are you gonna toughen up?”
What did He ask Peter?
“Do you love Me?”
When Peter denied the Lord and fell in temptation,
It screamed that he did not love Jesus.
That is what it says every time we fall into sin.
That is why James is looking for the one who will “persevere under trial”
It proves that you “love Him.”
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
And that is very theological stuff!
• A Christian who still chooses sin is a fraud…
• A Christian who doesn’t stick with Jesus is a fraud…
Because a Christian loves Jesus and proves it by living holy
And staying with Jesus through thick and thin.
And that is what temptations prove.
So that is the first reality about the “man who perseveres under trial;”
It Proves Realness
#2 IT PROMISES REWARD
James 1:12
Certainly you recognize this aspect of what James is saying.
When you face a temptation and you persevere through it,
It proves you are real and that you do in fact love Christ.
And if you are real and do in fact love Christ,
Then you “will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised”
This is not a special reward for the most faithful Christian.
This is the standard reward for the genuine Christian.
Paul wrote:
2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
There Paul called it the “crown of righteousness”,
And it is not just for Paul, but for “all who have loved His appearing.”
As we already read regarding Smyrna:
Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
When you persevere through temptation, it proves you have a genuine love for Christ, and ALL those who genuinely love Christ will be rewarded.
SO WHAT IS THIS REWARD?
Many times when we read the word “crown” we think of royalty or a ruler,
But that is NOT what Paul is referring to here.
The word here is STEPHANOS and it refers to a victor’s crown.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
James isn’t saying that everyone who loves Christ gets to rule and reign
(although it is true that we will reign with Christ)
James is saying is that everyone who perseveres through temptation,
Will most definitely be rewarded for their victory.
• When an athlete puts in countless hours of training and sacrifice to compete,
they are rewarded for their victory by being able to stand on the Olympic
podium, or to hoist the Lombardi trophy.
• When a general puts his life on the line to lead his army into battle and then
stands victorious over the battle field and is given a medal of
accomplishment.
They are rewarded for their sacrificial service and commitment.
So too is a Christian.
We will be rewarded for our perseverance.
• The difference is that athletes and soldiers only receive a “perishable
wreath”. Their medal will not last, their accomplishment will be forgotten.
• Furthermore, regardless of their sacrifice, they are never guaranteed victory.
Many athletes sacrifice and train for years and never win the crown.
But the Christian is guaranteed the victory,
And will receive a crown that will not fade!
Peter said to faithful elders:
1Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
You “will receive” it and it is “unfading”
1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
And this is what James wants you to realize.
• If you love Christ…
• If you prove that love by persevering through temptation…
• YOU WILL BE REWARDED!
Christ will not let your commitment go unnoticed.
Romans 8:16-18 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”
In short, you receive “the crown of life which the Lord has promised”
Not only a crown, but life itself!
So, there you have seen two realities for the
“man who perseveres under trial;”
It Proves Realness It Promises Reward
#3 IT PRODUCES REJOICING
James 1:12
Now we get to the first part of that verse:
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;”
The Greek word for “Blessed” actually means “happy”
James says that the “man who perseveres under trial”
Is in fact a happy man.
WHY?
• Because his faith has been proved
• His love has been verified
• And his reward has been promised
Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
And this is so foundational to Christian living.
And all of you who love the Lord know this.
WHAT IS IT THAT TRULY MAKES YOU HAPPY?
Let’s say this week that temptation comes your way –
And let’s say it’s the temptation that has a history of defeating you.
It’s THAT temptation.
And because your flesh wants it, you succumb to the temptation
To give your flesh what it desires.
• The flesh said – “This will make me happy”
• The flesh said – “This is what I want”
• The flesh said – “I will enjoy this”
So you give in.
All I want to know is, “DID IT MAKE YOU HAPPY?”
Does succumbing to temptation actually bring happiness?
Did it bring happiness for Peter?
Matthew 26:74-75 “Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, ” Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Did it bring happiness for Judas?
Matthew 27:3-5 “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”
Did it bring happiness for the Rich Young Ruler?
Matthew 19:21-22 “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”
And you can see clearly, that
It doesn’t matter if you are lost or saved,
Succumbing to temptation never brings happiness.
It may be fun for a season,
But giving in to temptation never brings happiness.
Proverbs 20:17 “Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.”
And that is true throughout Scripture.
You can’t find a saved person or a lost person who ever gave in to sin,
Who was then made happy because of it.
Yielding to temptation does not bring happiness.
And that is such the lie of the world.
• We are told to “Just Do It”
• Bud Light advertises “Whatever, USA” where you can do what you want.
We are continually encouraged to throw of inhibitions
And just enjoy whatever it is that your flesh wants to do,
And this is paraded as true happiness.
We see commercials of people who appear to be happy
And we buy the lie that gratifying the flesh brings happiness.
BUT IT NEVER DOES!
Instead Scripture says, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;”
Happy is the man who resists temptation.
Now is that true?
Acts 5:40-42 “They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
Of course it is.
I can’t explain it, but when I yield to temptation,
It never makes me happy,
And yet somehow resisting it always does.
AND THAT IS JAMES’ POINT!
• To all those who are facing trials and temptations of various kinds
• To all those who are being tempted to quit
• To all those who are being tempted by the world
James says – NO! THERE’S NO HAPPINESS THERE!
• But if you will resist that temptation,
• And prove your love for Christ,
• You will guarantee yourself a reward
• It will give you the assurance that you are real
• THAT will make you happy!
1 Peter 1:6-9 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
There is rejoicing found when your faith is tested and proved true!
So here is the encouragement to all of you
Who face various trials and temptations.
1) Count them Joy – because you God is using them to perfect you
2) Ask God what to do – He will tell you
3) Glory in your humble circumstances because you have a high position
4) Above all persevere through the temptation – it will make you happy!
Don’t buy the lie that giving in to temptation is fun.
When you give in to sin it says, “I don’t love Jesus”
And that is not a feeling that will cause you to rejoice.
Instead,
• Persevere!
• Endure the temptation!
• Let God help you escape!
• And on the other side your faith is validated!
• Your reward is promised!
• And I promise you will be happy!
