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James 1:9-12 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning. Open up your Bibles to the book of James. James chapter 1.
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I've got a lot of ground to cover in 30 minutes, so we better get ruling.
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But as an early believer, my first study of the book of James was actually with one of my really good friends from high school named Mitchell.
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And Mitchell, he had a pretty serious drinking problem and a little bit of drugs, but mainly drinking in high school.
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And a few years into college, a friend of mine said, hey, did you hear about Mitchell?
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Mitchell got saved while he was in prison.
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He's in prison right now, and like he's come to know the Lord, and I couldn't believe it.
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It was awesome.
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So he says, when he gets out of jail, he's going to need some really good friends to come alongside him.
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And I was like, let's do it.
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But as is the fashion, like when you're saved in jail, you're pretty blunt to the point a lot of the time.
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And Mitchell was very much like that.
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So he was like, hey, have you read the book of James?
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I'm like, yeah, let's read it together, man.
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And it kind of characterizes the book of James.
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Like Mitchell was very straightforward, didn't beat around the bush, just kind of told you how it was.
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Didn't really care about truth first and your feelings later.
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And we had a mutual friend that we were both trying to help.
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And he said, hey, how's this guy doing?
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And I said, well, he's doing a little better.
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Like he's not partying as much.
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He's gotten out of the way from the crowd.
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And he's doing a little better.
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And Mitchell said, is he following the Lord?
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And I just said, I don't think so.
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But he's not doing good then.
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It's kind of like what he, kind of that.
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But I see why he loved the book of James, because it is just sort of really straightforward.
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James' primary theme is not really how someone becomes a believer or how someone becomes saved,
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but rather like what does real faith look like?
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What does a, what does genuine saving faith look like?
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And he focuses on being more of a doer of the word than just a hearer of the word.
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His audience is primarily Jewish Christians.
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Because he mentions in verse one, the 12 tribes and the dispersion.
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So Jewish Christians who are probably being persecuted and driven away from a lot of their,
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their context that they were living in.
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This is James, more than likely the brother of Jesus.
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It's mentioned in Matthew 13, a leader in the Jerusalem church.
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And so he gets right into it.
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But Zach and Caleb did a really good job of going through the last parts of this.
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We're going to be picking up in verse nine today of chapter one.
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But the context of this whole section is basically how God uses trials to refine the faith of the believer
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in God's design in those trials.
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So James chapter one, verse nine.
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It says,
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Under trial for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life,
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which God has promised to those who love him.
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Let's pray with me real quick.
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Father, we are grateful to be gathered today as your people.
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People that have all been saved by Jesus Christ.
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And now that we are one in Jesus Christ, that we belong to one another.
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And I pray that today he would use your word to strengthen, challenge, convict, build up.
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That you would have the desire that you wish for each of the person here, Lord.
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That your spirit would apply the word appropriately.
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And thank you for this time, Lord, in Jesus name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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All right.
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So again, in the context, James had been talking about trials and affliction.
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If you go back up to verse two, he says,
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Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.
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For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
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And let steadfastness have its full effect.
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That you may be perfect and complete, lacking and nothing.
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And again, since Zach and Caleb did a good job of kind of wringing every drop out of this text about trials,
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I thought we would turn over to another familiar text just to get a little more of the context of just what God means by trials.
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But this word, trials, is used here in James, is parizamos.
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And it means not an inner wrestling with sinful inclinations, but rather outward undeserved sufferings from outside a person.
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So persecution, things that are coming from out here and coming on you, that weigh on you, that press at you.
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So it's not like, you know, again, it's not a struggle with sin or temptation,
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but it's the stuff that comes from outside that distresses us.
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That's what trials kind of mean here.
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And God can work in the little things in our lives, but he really works in the tragedies and the hard-pressed moments of trials,
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the parizamos, the darkest hours of our souls.
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And so Peter, the Apostle Peter, just like James, kind of writes about this.
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But just to get some more context of trials, flip over to 1 Peter 1 real quick, but keep your hand in James.
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But 1 Peter 1, verse 6.
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And likewise, Peter is preparing the churches to get ready for official Roman persecution that was coming,
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which up to that point had mainly been from the Jews, but it was getting to be official from Rome itself.
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So Peter's preparing the churches to prepare to suffer and to endure trials.
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So 1 Peter 1, and look at verse 6.
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And to pick up on the language that James uses, he says,
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In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
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so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold,
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that perishes though it is tested by fire,
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may be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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And though you have not seen him, I love this verse, though you have not seen him, you love him.
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Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with the joy that is inexpressible
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and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
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And so in this one text, tying it into James, right,
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is this idea of how precious metals and a refiner's fire,
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so it's an image used a lot in the Bible for a powerful metaphor for trials.
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So our suffering and all that we go through is testing that is sent from God.
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Trials are a crucible, so to speak.
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So just as gold and other precious metals go through extreme heat and a refiner's fire,
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a crucible to burn out any impurities that are there,
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to refine it.
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So it's used as a metaphor of how God uses trials to take the object of our faith and push it through it
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so that it'll burn a lot of the junk out of our lives.
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It should not be there.
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It brings us closer to what God desires.
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The psalmist said in Psalm 66,
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For you, O God, have tested us.
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You have tried us as silver is tried.
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You brought us into the net.
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You laid crushing burdens on our backs.
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You let men ride over our heads when we went through fire and through water.
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Yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
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So the imagery as God is the skilled refiner,
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taking our faith and putting it through fire of trials and suffering.
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So just as gold has a lot of impurities,
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yeah, the believer's life, my life, your life,
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has a lot of stuff in it that should not be.
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We are not yet perfect.
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But when God puts us through fires, it hurts.
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It hurts.
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It burns.
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But when we come out of the furnace,
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more pure, closer to Christ, and more like Him.
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So a few observations, just really quick,
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just an intro here,
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from Peter's passage about trials,
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because again, they went well on James the last two weeks.
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A few observations from this passage in 1 Peter.
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Notice, he says,
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Though now for a little while.
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Here's four observations.
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Trials are temporary.
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Though now for a little while.
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So when you're going through trials,
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it can seem like they won't stop.
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They never will end.
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And it just makes us feel like,
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is there ever going to be a stop to this?
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Is it unending?
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But he's saying for a little while.
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It's temporary,
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because one day we will inherit eternal salvation.
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So life is not easy.
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The second observation,
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our trials bring grief.
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It says you have been grieved.
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Meaning trials are not fun.
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They're not pleasant or easy to go through.
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Suffering, affliction, and hardship
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brings great distress, discomfort,
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pain, and grief into our lives.
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So it's hard.
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I like that recognition.
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Trials bring grief.
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Thirdly, trials vary in form.
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And this is important.
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It connects to what James says.
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By various trials.
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Trials of many kinds.
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They vary in form.
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So they don't always look the same for my life,
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or your life, or someone else's.
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God providentially can design a certain trial
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to hit you where he needs to hit you.
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That might not really be necessarily
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as big of a test for somebody else.
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But for you it is.
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He knows exactly what to pressure you with.
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He knows exactly what to do.
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And so design for each believer.
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Some it's physical persecution,
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sickness, illness, relational loss,
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whatever it is.
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He just knows.
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So trials vary in form.
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And then lastly, trials have design.
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This is difficult in the moment to see.
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But he says if necessary.
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So meaning trials just don't happen
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randomly or meaninglessly.
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They always have a providential design
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behind them.
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So that's why James says ask God for wisdom.
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He'll show you.
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Ask him.
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So he designs for us to learn
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something about ourselves
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and him in those trials.
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So trials are temporary.
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Trials bring grief.
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They vary in form.
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And trials have design.
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So if you're going to go back to James now.
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James chapter 1.
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Faith that doesn't flourish.
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Faith does not flourish
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when it lies untested.
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It's kind of like going to the gym.
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If you don't exercise your muscles,
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you atrophy.
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And so when God loves us
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and he saves us,
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he imparts to us saving faith
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when we are born again.
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But because he cares for us,
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he also injects various trials
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to train, grow, and sweeten,
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and strengthen, and mature us
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in the process.
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So trials are not given to us unnecessarily
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to produce enduring faith.
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But trials are one of the most essential things
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that God uses
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to keep our faith alive,
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to sustain it,
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and to help us persevere.
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He keeps alive the faith
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that he has given us to the very end.
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Trials are a huge way he does that.
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So, walking through our text here,
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there's just four points.
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All right?
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Doing it a little different maybe,
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but point number one,
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our trials are meant to humble us.
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Trials are meant to humble us.
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You see this in verses 9 and 10,
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the second part.
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He says,
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Because like a flower of the grass,
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he will pass away.
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For the sun rises with its scorching heat
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and withers the grass.
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Its flower falls,
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and its beauty perishes.
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So, he's giving you a metaphor,
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one familiar in Scripture.
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Mortal mankind is often compared
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to the flower of the grass.
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There's three common flowers in Israel,
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and they have beautiful colors
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when they come out in February.
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But despite their beauty,
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their youth,
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eventually they are scorched
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and burned to ashes by May.
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And so, the scorching heat
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refers to this strong blast,
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scorching wind,
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that just kind of devastates
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every flower in its path.
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And he's saying,
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so it is with mortal man.
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He's like that.
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Because one day,
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because of sin,
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he will decay,
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and eventually all of us
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will not be here.
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All of us will not be here.
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One day,
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we will all pass away.
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Job wrote,
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man,
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who is born of woman,
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is few of days
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and full of trouble.
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He comes out like a flower
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and withers.
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He is like a shadow
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that continues not.
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And later on,
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in the book of James,
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James chapter 4,
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he says,
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what is your life?
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For you are but a mist.
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You are but a vapor
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that appears for a little while
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and then vanishes.
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So like short-lived flowers
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of the field,
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so too we also
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will perish one day.
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Is that a humbling thought?
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If you sit and chew on it
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for a little while,
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it'll be a humbling thought.
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Do you feel the weight of that,
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that we're here
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and we're gone?
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And a lot of the younger crew here,
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it's just not on your radar
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because you feel strong,
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healthy,
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kind of at the peak
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of your physical vitality,
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but I promise one day
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it'll hit you
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in a very real way
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that we are fading.
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The blasting heat
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and wind and fury
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of trials
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will come
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and will humble us.
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We are not immortal.
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So,
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trials are meant
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to humble us.
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Trials
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and suffering
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touch everyone.
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That's one of the common themes here.
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So,
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the broader theme
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is it touches everyone.
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James wants
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the readers
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to have this sink
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in their heads
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and no matter how
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powerful
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and rich they are
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or how weak
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and poor they are,
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trials and suffering
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will come upon
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everyone.
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It kind of levels
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the playing field.
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It's the great equalizer.
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There's no one
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who can escape it.
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No one's exempt.
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And so,
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in this context,
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James particularly
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has in mind
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people who are rich
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and people who are poor
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in the context
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of the church.
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It says the brothers.
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So,
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in the Psalms
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it says,
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those of low estate
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are but a breath.
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Those of high estate
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are a delusion.
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In the balances
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they go up
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and they are together
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lighter than a breath.
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Psalm 62 verse 9
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meaning like
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none of them are permanent.
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Whether you're high,
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you're low,
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rich or poor,
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we're all like
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a breath.
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Trials and afflictions
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we face in this present life
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are the great equalizer.
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Bring all of God's people
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to complete dependence
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on Him
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and then also
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in connection
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to each other.
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We're all knocked down
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to the same level.
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Trials force us
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to despair
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of our own resources
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and then to look
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to God's resources.
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So,
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it is imperative though
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it's imperative
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that God helps us
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see our need for Him.
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And trials
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are how He does that.
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Whatever it costs
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it's so important
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that we become aware
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of our need for Him.
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Hold your hand there.
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I don't want to replace
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for you to turn
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but hold your hand in James
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but my favorite passage
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to display
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what I'm talking about
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is here
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is 2 Corinthians.
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2 Corinthians chapter 1.
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If you haven't read this lately
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it's going to blow your mind.
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2 Corinthians chapter 1
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go to verse 8.
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So,
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Apostle Paul
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writing his second letter
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to the church
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at Corinth.
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Check this out.
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2 Corinthians chapter 1
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verse 8.
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Paul says,
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For we do not want you
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to be unaware,
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brothers,
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of the affliction
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we experienced
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in Asia.
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For we were so
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utterly burned
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beyond our strength
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that we despaired
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of life itself.
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You hear that?
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Paul's like,
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it got so bad
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we wanted to die.
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That's like how bad it got.
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Can you imagine
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Paul saying that?
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I think we have
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kind of a false
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view of him sometimes.
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He just,
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it's okay,
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you know,
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just sort of brushes it off.
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It got so bad
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in Asia,
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he said,
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that we despaired
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of life.
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Verse 9.
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Indeed,
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we felt that we had
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received the sentence
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of death,
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but this was to make us
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rely not on ourselves,
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but on God
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who raises the dead.
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He delivered us
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from such a deadly peril,
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and he will deliver us.
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On him,
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we have set our hope
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that he will deliver us again.
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So,
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hopefully we can
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fix this problem.
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There's a lot of people,
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it's kind of become
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a cliche in the church,
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but it's not true,
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but it says
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God will not allow you
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to go through
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more than you can bear.
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Not true.
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He says it right there.
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We were burned
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beyond our strength
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that we despaired
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of life itself.
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It does say in James,
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coming up soon,
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that he won't allow you
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to be tempted
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beyond what you can bear.
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It's not the same idea.
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Not an enticement to sin.
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This is,
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God isn't just up there
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kind of being
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your cheerleader.
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He wants to break you
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to where you are
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very aware
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of your need for him.
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And how will you
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ever get there
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if you don't despair
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of your own strength?
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If you get to that point
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where you realize,
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I don't have anything left.
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It's got to be him.
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So he will
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put us through
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more than we can bear
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so that
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we will not rely
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on ourselves,
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but on God
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who raises the dead.
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And it's not
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a fun lesson
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to learn
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in the middle of it.
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But when you come
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out of it,
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it's so great.
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So go over
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back to James again.
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Trials bring us
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to the same level
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of dependency
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on God
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and humbly
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the same level
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with each other
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no matter who we are.
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It says in Acts,
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there are many
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tribulations.
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All of us
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must enter
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the kingdom of God.
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So the point here
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is whether poor
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or rich,
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trials will come
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into our lives
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to humble us
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and remind us
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that we are not God,
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that we must
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humbly admit
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that our resources
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are not enough
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and that we must
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go to him alone.
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So that's
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just imperative
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that we see that.
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So as a poor brother
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forgets his earthly
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poverty,
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so the rich brother
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will forget
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his earthly riches
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in the middle of trials.
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They are equal
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in faith in Christ.
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And so God,
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again,
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in his providence
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uses trials
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a certain design
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both for the rich
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and for the poor.
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That's kind of
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where we're going to go
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the next few points here.
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But
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if you're
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under the delusion
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that just because
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you're a follower
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of Christ
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that you're going to be
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exempt from trials,
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like,
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it's not going to happen.
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We all have to,
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like,
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be aware
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that it's going to come
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in this life.
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And that
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we must learn
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how to suffer
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well.
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It's just going to get worse.
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So,
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number two.
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Trials lift up
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the poor.
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This is in verse 9.
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He said,
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let the lowly brother
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boast in his exaltation.
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So,
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here,
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James is addressing,
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in other words,
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the brother
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of humble circumstances,
21:06
of low degree.
21:07
Someone who actually
21:08
is financially,
21:10
economically,
21:11
poor,
21:12
didn't have much.
21:14
That would represent
21:14
most of
21:15
the people
21:16
in the ancient world.
21:18
Most of
21:19
the believers.
21:20
There wasn't
21:21
a majority middle class
21:22
back then.
21:23
It was either,
21:23
like,
21:23
the really,
21:24
really powerful,
21:25
rich,
21:25
and usually
21:27
extreme poor.
21:29
But it also
21:29
could refer to
21:30
believers who maybe
21:31
were rich,
21:32
but because of
21:33
trials and persecution,
21:35
they've been dispossessed
21:36
of their homes,
21:37
their possessions.
21:38
So,
21:39
they've been brought
21:39
low.
21:41
And so,
21:42
very important
21:43
to kind of see
21:43
that here.
21:44
But,
21:44
how does
21:45
God use
21:46
trials and suffering
21:47
in the life
21:48
of the poor person,
21:50
the lowly person?
21:51
It says that
21:52
he exalts
21:53
him.
21:55
Despite his
21:56
earthly condition,
21:57
when a poor
21:58
saint has
21:58
an eternal
21:59
perspective,
22:00
he can boast
22:02
or glory
22:03
and rejoice
22:04
in his
22:06
exaltation.
22:08
So,
22:08
it's a legitimate
22:09
form of pride.
22:09
It doesn't mean
22:10
like an arrogant
22:10
boasting.
22:11
It means like
22:12
you're boasting
22:12
in your God
22:14
and how great
22:14
he is.
22:17
And so,
22:18
in the fallen
22:18
world's eyes,
22:19
I look at
22:20
people who don't
22:21
have a lot,
22:21
people who
22:22
appear poor,
22:24
and as Paul
22:25
said,
22:26
we have become
22:27
and still are
22:28
like the scum
22:29
of the world,
22:30
the refuge
22:30
of all things.
22:32
It's like how
22:32
the world views
22:33
people in that
22:34
condition.
22:36
Yet,
22:37
because of
22:37
Christ's
22:38
transforming power,
22:39
because of
22:39
his love for
22:40
us,
22:40
a poor saint,
22:42
in God's
22:42
eyes,
22:43
is beautiful.
22:45
A true believer
22:46
in this life,
22:47
regardless of
22:48
how low he
22:48
is,
22:49
in the world's
22:50
eyes,
22:50
can take pride
22:51
in his God.
22:53
And James
22:53
exhorts the
22:54
poor person
22:55
to boast of
22:56
glory in his
22:57
status in
22:58
Christ,
22:58
that one day
22:59
he will be
22:59
exalted and
23:00
vindicated by
23:01
God,
23:02
even though he
23:02
doesn't have
23:02
much in this
23:04
life.
23:04
And so,
23:05
he can look
23:06
at true
23:07
riches that
23:08
are above,
23:09
and not what
23:10
is here below.
23:12
That gives him
23:13
hope and
23:14
expectation to
23:14
go into the
23:15
next life.
23:16
So he can
23:17
gladly accept
23:18
temporary
23:20
deprivation,
23:21
right,
23:22
of suffering,
23:23
trials,
23:23
because he has
23:24
a future hope
23:25
set on the
23:26
eternal realm
23:27
of God.
23:28
God.
23:29
And he can
23:29
hope in the
23:30
truth that
23:30
one day he
23:31
will be
23:31
exalted.
23:33
All right,
23:33
so here's a
23:34
commentator,
23:34
I love this,
23:35
he says about
23:36
the poor
23:36
saint,
23:38
he may be
23:38
hungry,
23:39
but he has
23:40
the bread of
23:40
life.
23:41
He may be
23:42
thirsty,
23:43
but he has
23:44
the water of
23:45
life.
23:46
He may be
23:46
poor,
23:47
but he has
23:48
eternal riches.
23:50
He may be
23:50
cast aside
23:51
by men,
23:53
but he has
23:53
been received
23:54
by God.
23:56
He may
23:56
have no
23:57
home here,
23:58
but he has
23:59
a glorious
24:00
home in the
24:01
life to come.
24:03
So that is
24:03
how we ought
24:04
to look at
24:06
those of us
24:06
who are poor,
24:08
those of us
24:08
who are lowly.
24:10
Poor is kind
24:11
of a hard
24:11
context to
24:12
apply to a
24:13
lot of us
24:13
because comparatively
24:14
we are pretty
24:15
well off,
24:16
but it can
24:17
also mean
24:18
someone who
24:18
is lowly,
24:19
of lowly
24:20
spirit,
24:20
someone who
24:21
is broken,
24:22
right?
24:22
So be
24:24
aware of
24:25
that.
24:25
God will
24:26
exalt the
24:27
poor.
24:27
He will
24:28
lift up
24:28
the poor.
24:30
Point number
24:30
three,
24:32
trials bring
24:33
down the
24:34
rich.
24:36
Trials bring
24:36
down the
24:37
rich.
24:37
You see in
24:38
verse 9,
24:39
it said,
24:40
let the
24:40
rich boast
24:43
in his
24:43
humiliation.
24:45
And rich
24:46
here is
24:46
referring to
24:47
someone who
24:47
is well
24:47
off,
24:48
someone who
24:48
has a
24:49
lot,
24:49
someone who
24:49
is financially,
24:51
economically,
24:52
stable,
24:53
everything going
24:54
for him.
24:55
Such people
24:56
did exist
24:57
back then,
24:57
but again,
24:58
it was a
24:58
very slim
24:59
majority.
25:00
But put
25:00
yourself in
25:01
James'
25:02
shoes.
25:02
He's writing
25:03
to a
25:03
Jewish
25:03
audience,
25:05
and to
25:06
a lot of
25:06
the Jews,
25:06
the Pharisees
25:07
and others,
25:08
like wealth
25:08
was a sign
25:09
of God's
25:09
favor and
25:10
acceptance
25:11
of that
25:12
person.
25:12
And the
25:12
poor person
25:13
was looked
25:13
at as
25:14
cursed by
25:14
God.
25:15
And so
25:16
he's reminding
25:16
them,
25:17
not really,
25:19
not really,
25:20
not true.
25:22
In contrast,
25:24
James
25:24
exhorts the
25:25
rich brother
25:26
to boast
25:26
in his
25:27
humiliation
25:28
because he's
25:29
being shown
25:30
by God
25:31
that he is
25:32
weak,
25:32
that he is
25:32
vulnerable,
25:34
that he is
25:34
fragile because
25:35
of trials.
25:36
So I think
25:37
at least there's
25:38
two things that
25:39
James is trying
25:40
to get the
25:40
rich man to
25:41
see.
25:42
First,
25:43
he wants to
25:43
use trials to
25:44
help the rich
25:45
man realize
25:46
that his wealth
25:47
is temporary
25:48
and it brings
25:49
him no
25:49
advantage before
25:50
God.
25:51
money can
25:52
solve some
25:52
problems,
25:54
some,
25:55
but there's
25:56
a lot that
25:57
they cannot
25:57
solve at
25:58
all or
25:59
help you
25:59
with.
26:00
It can't
26:01
buy people
26:01
out of
26:02
their problems.
26:03
When you
26:03
lose a
26:04
loved one
26:05
to death,
26:07
when you
26:08
have a
26:08
child who's
26:09
diagnosed with
26:09
a chronic
26:10
illness,
26:12
when you
26:12
suffer physically
26:13
or you have
26:14
deep emotional
26:15
pain,
26:15
like no money
26:16
can buy you
26:16
out of that.
26:18
And God
26:18
uses that to
26:19
show you
26:20
that you
26:21
are vulnerable,
26:22
that you
26:22
need him,
26:24
that you
26:25
don't have
26:25
this invisible
26:26
attitude towards
26:30
God.
26:31
So James
26:32
says,
26:32
the rich,
26:33
those who
26:33
are well
26:34
off,
26:34
should boast
26:35
not on
26:36
their riches,
26:37
but being
26:37
made low
26:38
before God.
26:40
So the rich
26:40
man should
26:41
thank God.
26:42
Thank you
26:43
for making
26:43
me aware
26:44
of my
26:45
great need
26:46
for you.
26:46
Because of
26:46
all my
26:47
stuff,
26:48
I sometimes
26:48
will lose
26:49
sight of
26:50
that.
26:50
I think
26:51
that I
26:51
am
26:51
independent,
26:53
self-sufficient,
26:54
and God
26:54
uses that
26:55
to bankrupt
26:56
them of
26:57
their worldly
26:57
riches,
26:58
to show
26:58
them their
26:59
need for
27:00
his grace.
27:01
So God
27:02
used the
27:02
trials to
27:03
humble the
27:03
rich,
27:04
bring them
27:04
low,
27:05
to make
27:05
them aware
27:06
of their
27:07
need for
27:07
him,
27:08
to have
27:09
their hope
27:09
set on
27:09
the living
27:10
God.
27:11
Secondly,
27:12
though,
27:12
underneath
27:12
this,
27:12
I think
27:13
that God
27:13
uses trials
27:15
to help
27:15
the rich
27:16
identify with
27:17
the poor
27:17
brother.
27:17
God
27:18
both have
27:19
that in
27:19
common.
27:20
We're both
27:22
fleeting.
27:22
We both
27:23
are temporary.
27:24
Trials bring
27:25
us down to
27:25
the same
27:26
level and
27:26
make us
27:27
both aware,
27:27
poor or
27:28
rich,
27:28
of how
27:29
much we
27:29
need God.
27:32
So it's
27:33
the great
27:33
equalizer,
27:34
like I
27:34
said.
27:35
Just as
27:36
the trials
27:37
that come
27:38
upon the
27:38
rich,
27:39
all their
27:40
stuff will
27:40
be gone
27:40
one day
27:41
and they'll
27:41
have just
27:41
the same
27:42
amount as
27:42
the poor
27:43
guy,
27:43
right?
27:43
So it
27:44
brings them
27:45
together,
27:47
helps them
27:48
relate.
27:50
So,
27:51
you know,
27:51
again,
27:52
in our
27:53
affluent
27:53
Western
27:53
culture as
27:54
believers,
27:55
we tend
27:56
to think
27:56
that we're
27:57
insulated
27:57
and we
27:58
have some
27:59
sort of
28:00
false sense
28:01
of security,
28:02
nothing bad
28:02
or dangerous
28:03
is going to
28:03
happen.
28:06
But,
28:07
we all
28:08
know that's
28:09
not true.
28:10
We know
28:10
that God
28:10
is going
28:11
to use
28:11
whatever it
28:11
takes to
28:12
make us
28:12
aware of
28:13
our need
28:14
for him.
28:15
So God
28:15
ordains
28:16
hard times
28:18
to make
28:18
sure that
28:19
we don't
28:19
make idols
28:19
out of
28:20
the good
28:20
times.
28:21
Does that
28:22
make sense?
28:22
And he
28:24
wants to
28:25
show us
28:26
what's in
28:27
our hearts.
28:27
Like,
28:28
where does
28:28
your true
28:28
treasure lie?
28:31
Is it in
28:31
him or the
28:32
stuff that
28:32
he just
28:32
gives us?
28:34
And when
28:34
he takes
28:34
it away,
28:35
are we
28:35
angry and
28:36
resentful?
28:38
Or are we
28:38
recognized
28:39
it was grace
28:39
in the first
28:40
place and
28:41
that because
28:41
of him we
28:42
still can
28:43
glory in
28:44
him?
28:46
And then
28:46
lastly,
28:47
I could
28:48
spend the
28:48
whole time
28:49
on just
28:49
this last
28:49
point,
28:50
but I'm
28:50
trying to
28:51
land the
28:51
plane for
28:51
everyone.
28:53
Point
28:54
four,
28:55
trials lead
28:57
to glory.
28:58
Trials lead
28:59
to glory.
29:01
First
29:01
12,
29:02
blessed,
29:03
happy,
29:05
intensely
29:05
joyful is
29:07
the man
29:08
who remains
29:09
steadfast under
29:10
trial.
29:11
For when
29:11
he has
29:12
stood the
29:12
test,
29:13
he will
29:14
receive the
29:14
crown of
29:15
life,
29:16
which God
29:17
has promised
29:17
to those
29:19
who love
29:20
him.
29:21
So,
29:22
a promise
29:23
to persevere.
29:24
So,
29:24
being straightforward,
29:26
if you knew
29:27
that a really
29:27
great trial
29:28
was about to
29:29
come,
29:29
one that was
29:30
going to
29:30
hit you
29:31
or hurt,
29:33
to endure
29:34
a great
29:34
tribulation,
29:35
our souls
29:36
need something
29:36
to hold
29:37
on to,
29:38
if we're
29:39
going to
29:39
make it.
29:40
It's not
29:41
that easy
29:42
to do it
29:42
just with a
29:43
mere command
29:44
to survive.
29:45
Our minds
29:46
and our hearts
29:46
need to latch
29:47
on to a
29:48
reason for
29:49
us to go
29:50
forward.
29:51
We need a
29:51
rock-solid
29:52
truth,
29:53
a promise
29:54
to grasp
29:55
hold of
29:55
so that we
29:56
don't get
29:57
blown away,
29:59
an anchor
29:59
for our
30:00
souls.
30:00
And there's
30:01
so many
30:01
in the
30:02
scripture
30:02
for believers
30:04
in Jesus
30:06
Christ,
30:07
while we
30:07
can count
30:08
trials as
30:09
great joy,
30:10
count all
30:10
joy.
30:12
How about
30:13
this one?
30:14
2 Corinthians
30:15
again,
30:15
chapter 4,
30:16
says,
30:17
this light
30:18
and momentary
30:20
affliction
30:21
is preparing
30:22
for us an
30:23
eternal weight
30:24
of glory
30:25
beyond all
30:26
comprehension.
30:27
You can't wrap
30:28
your head
30:29
around it.
30:30
We can embrace
30:31
the promise
30:31
that no eye
30:33
has seen,
30:35
nor ear heard,
30:36
nor heart
30:36
of man
30:37
imagined what
30:39
God has
30:39
prepared for
30:40
those who
30:40
love him.
30:42
It's greater
30:42
than anything
30:43
you can
30:43
concoct up.
30:44
It's greater
30:45
than anything
30:45
you can conceive
30:46
or imagine.
30:48
We can agree
30:48
with the
30:49
Apostle Paul
30:49
in Romans 8,
30:50
I consider
30:51
the sufferings
30:51
of this
30:52
present time
30:53
are not
30:54
worth comparing
30:55
with the
30:56
glory that
30:57
is to be
30:58
revealed in
30:58
us.
30:59
No matter
30:59
how bad
31:00
this is,
31:01
something
31:02
greater is
31:02
far,
31:03
far much
31:04
more than
31:04
we could
31:05
even comprehend
31:05
now.
31:07
And then
31:07
what Jesus
31:08
said,
31:08
rejoice and
31:09
be glad
31:09
for your
31:10
reward is
31:10
great in
31:12
heaven.
31:12
We need
31:13
to fill
31:13
our mind
31:14
with those
31:14
promises.
31:17
Favorite
31:18
Piper quote,
31:19
wimpy views,
31:20
wimpy worldviews
31:21
make wimpy
31:22
Christians.
31:24
So,
31:25
because when
31:26
trials come,
31:27
you've got to
31:27
have something
31:27
to latch
31:28
onto.
31:29
You've got to
31:29
have something
31:30
for the Holy
31:30
Spirit to
31:31
remind you of.
31:32
to make it,
31:34
or you're
31:34
going to be
31:34
blown away.
31:36
So now is
31:36
the time to
31:37
fortify.
31:37
But in
31:38
James,
31:38
he gives us
31:38
a great
31:39
one.
31:39
Blessed,
31:40
happy,
31:41
deep joy
31:42
are those
31:44
who persevere
31:46
under trial,
31:47
right?
31:48
Who remain
31:49
steadfast.
31:50
Love the
31:50
word,
31:51
that word.
31:51
It means
31:51
those who
31:52
bear bravely
31:53
and calmly
31:54
all the
31:56
ills that
31:56
befall them.
31:58
You only
31:58
can do that
31:59
if you have
32:00
Christ.
32:01
Under trial,
32:02
parisimos,
32:03
there's that
32:03
word again.
32:04
Why?
32:05
For because
32:06
when he has
32:07
stood the
32:07
test,
32:08
he will
32:09
receive the
32:09
crown of
32:09
life.
32:11
Crown
32:11
alludes not
32:12
to a royal
32:12
crown,
32:13
more of an
32:14
athletic crown,
32:15
a,
32:15
back then,
32:16
a laurel
32:17
wreath,
32:18
the athletics
32:19
victor crown,
32:20
or the
32:21
general's
32:21
victorious
32:22
victor crown
32:24
that he would
32:24
wear.
32:24
It's this
32:26
idea.
32:27
Paul wrote
32:28
about it.
32:29
In 1 Corinthians,
32:30
he talks about
32:31
believers who are
32:32
on a spiritual
32:32
race to receive
32:34
a wreath that
32:36
is imperishable,
32:37
right?
32:39
So,
32:40
the literal
32:41
here,
32:41
I love this,
32:42
it just means
32:42
the crown which
32:43
is life.
32:44
So,
32:45
the reward for
32:46
faithful perseverance
32:47
is eternal life.
32:49
The resurrection
32:49
that we will all
32:50
have if we are
32:51
in Christ Jesus,
32:52
that's our,
32:53
that's the reward.
32:54
One that we don't
32:55
deserve,
32:56
but one that we've
32:57
been given
32:57
by faith in
32:59
Jesus Christ.
33:01
The guarantor,
33:03
however you want
33:04
to say that,
33:05
of such a promise
33:06
if you look,
33:06
is God himself.
33:07
He has promised.
33:09
God is not a liar.
33:10
God does not
33:11
change his mind
33:12
as if he was
33:12
a mere man.
33:14
So,
33:14
if God says,
33:15
one day,
33:16
if you persevere,
33:18
if you make it,
33:21
you'll receive
33:21
the crown of life.
33:23
I promise you.
33:24
And then,
33:26
to tie it in,
33:26
to make sure
33:27
that our affections
33:28
are on him,
33:29
it is a promise
33:31
of God he makes
33:31
only to those
33:33
who love him.
33:36
Alright?
33:37
So,
33:37
there will be no
33:38
boasting in heaven.
33:40
Those who remain
33:41
steadfast under trial
33:42
are those
33:43
who love God.
33:45
Eternal life
33:46
is heaven
33:46
with all its blessings,
33:47
but we are in the
33:48
presence of God
33:49
forever.
33:51
Alright,
33:51
in closing,
33:52
and then we're done,
33:52
Revelation,
33:55
chapter 2.
33:57
Revelation,
33:57
chapter 2.
34:02
Revelation,
34:03
not revelations.
34:06
Chapter 2.
34:06
So,
34:09
Jesus is speaking
34:10
as the powerful,
34:13
majestic,
34:14
radiant
34:14
Son of God
34:16
to the Apostle James
34:17
on the island
34:18
of Patmos,
34:18
and he gives these,
34:20
he speaks to these
34:21
different churches,
34:22
these seven churches.
34:24
This is the church
34:25
of Smyrna,
34:27
not Smyrna,
34:28
Georgia,
34:30
but
34:30
in Asia.
34:32
So,
34:32
check this out.
34:33
This is Revelation,
34:34
chapter 2.
34:34
Look at verse 9.
34:35
This is Jesus
34:36
talking to the church.
34:38
He goes,
34:39
I know
34:39
your tribulation
34:41
and your poverty,
34:42
but you are rich.
34:45
The physically poor
34:46
believers
34:48
in that church
34:48
were spiritually rich.
34:50
He says,
34:51
and the slander
34:52
of those who say
34:53
that they are Jews,
34:55
but really are not.
34:56
They are a synagogue
34:57
of Satan.
35:00
Do not fear
35:01
what you are about
35:02
to suffer.
35:03
Do not fear
35:03
what you are about
35:02
to suffer.
35:03
hear that?
35:07
Just get yourself
35:08
ready.
35:08
Like,
35:08
just imagine
35:09
that a trial
35:10
is coming.
35:10
They will come.
35:12
Let's hear Jesus
35:12
say these kind of
35:13
words to you.
35:14
It's meant for
35:14
this context,
35:15
but it's also true
35:16
for all believers
35:17
in Christ.
35:18
Jesus,
35:18
do not fear
35:19
what you are
35:20
about to suffer.
35:22
Behold,
35:23
the devil
35:23
is about to throw
35:24
some of you
35:25
into prison
35:26
that you may
35:27
be tested.
35:28
And for 10 days
35:30
you will have
35:30
tribulation.
35:31
be faithful
35:33
unto death
35:34
and I will
35:36
give you
35:36
the crown
35:37
of life.
35:39
He who has
35:40
an ear,
35:41
let him hear
35:41
what the Spirit
35:42
says to the churches.
35:44
The one who
35:45
conquers
35:46
will not be
35:47
hurt
35:47
by the second
35:49
death.
35:50
So good.
35:52
So good.
35:54
So,
35:55
I know
35:56
many in this
35:57
church today
35:57
are going
35:58
through much
35:59
tribulation.
35:59
tribulation.
36:00
I hope that we
36:01
can bear that
36:02
together.
36:03
Trials have
36:03
brought us
36:04
a lot closer
36:04
together as a
36:05
body,
36:06
particularly this
36:06
last year and
36:07
a half.
36:08
Something just
36:09
to rejoice over.
36:10
But it will be
36:11
over soon.
36:12
Like we all
36:12
will be here
36:13
and then we're
36:13
gone.
36:14
And then hopefully
36:14
we'll all meet
36:15
each other on
36:17
the other side.
36:18
And we will
36:19
receive the crown
36:20
which is life
36:21
because of the
36:23
work of the
36:23
Lord Jesus
36:24
alone.
36:26
Right?
36:27
We'll be there
36:27
forever.
36:28
The one who
36:29
conquers will
36:29
not be hurt
36:30
by the second
36:31
death.
36:32
Join me in
36:33
prayer.
36:33
Amen.