Count It All Joy

1. Count It All Joy James 1:2—Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds,

2. We Are Different • Size • Ethnic Background • Social-Economic Background • Personal Taste We All Share the Common Thread of Suffering and Pain.

3. Where Do You Go From Here? • The divorce is final and there is nothing you can do about it. • The abuse really did happen. • The cancer is terminal. • The disability is permanent. • The job is really gone. • The accident happened. • The casket is closed.

4. Peter and James Wrote to Christians Who Were Familiar With Suffering. • 1 Peter 1:1—Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, • James 1:1—James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

5. Peter and James Wrote to Christians to Encourage Them When Their Circumstances Were Not Encouraging. • 1 Peter 1:3-4--Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

6. Four Things to Remember About Trials • Trials Are Necessary • 1 Peter 1:6-7—In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by pvarious trials, 7 so that qthe tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes rthough it is tested by sfire—may be found to result in tpraise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

7. God And Trials • God Does NOT Tempt Man to Sin. • James 1:13 --Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. • God Will TEST Man • Genesis 22:1 —After these things kGod tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” • God will test man to draw us closer to Him. • God will test man to wet our appetite for eternity. • God will test man to make us spiritually stronger. • Guy N. Woods—“James affirms that God tries men for the purpose of determining the genuineness of their faith, but he denies that he does so for the purpose of seducing them to sin.” (Gospel Advocate Commentary, page 59)

8. Tempt or Test • Trials • Evil suggestions • Solicitations to evil • James 1:2-12; • God will use trials to our maturity. (vv.2-4) • If we lack the wisdom to see this then pray for it. (vv.5-8) • The man who perseveres under trial will receive a crown of life. (v.12) • James 1:13-15; God will not solicit one to do evil or suggest that one do evil.

9. Wilson Adams: “It is not the trials which make or break us but our reaction to them. I get a little put out with people who act as if they have a corner on the market of suffering. ‘Oh, you don’t know the circumstances I’m under…’ May I ask a simple question: If you are a Christian, what are you doing under your circumstances? As children of heaven, aren’t we supposed to live above our circumstances? Aren’t we supposed to smile in the face of adversity? Aren’t we supposed to set the example for the rest of the world? I think so. And lest we forget, aren’t we supposed to follow Him who was “the man of sorrows” and who is acquainted with our grief? You are not the only one. You are not the only one.” (Present the Truth, 2000 Florida College Lectures, page 54)

10. Four Things to Remember About Trials • Trials Are Necessary • Trials Are Distressing • 1 Peter 1:6--In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, • NASB—distressed. • Don’t trivialize another’s pain. • Give comfort in times of pain. (2 Cor. 1:4)

11. Four Things to Remember About Trials • Trials Are Necessary • Trials Are Distressing • Trials Come in Various Ways • 1 Peter 1:6--In this you greatly rejoice, though now ofor a little while, if need be, pyou have been 3grieved by various trials, • Polikolos: • Thayer “of divers colors, variegated of divers sorts” • We get the modern word “polka dot” from this term. • Trials may be: • Physical, Emotional, Relational, Financial, Spiritual • Sudden, Extended • Public, Private • Related to Sin, Unrelated to Sin

12. God Can Match the Color of His Grace With the Color of Our Suffering. • 1 Cor. 12:9—And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly jI will rather boast in my infirmities, kthat the power of Christ may rest upon me.

13. Four Things to Remember About Trials Praise, Honor, and Glory Man: Our praise as we are found faithful, our honor as we reign with the Lord in the spiritual realm, and our glory in eternity. God: God’s praise: God is worthy to be served regardless of our circumstance. God’s honor: In His providence molded us into a faithful mature human being. God’s glory: God used such trials to humble us, better suiting us for a relationship with Him, and therefore saving us. • Trials Are Necessary • Trials Are Distressing • Trials Come in Various Ways • Trials Have a Purpose • 1 Peter 1:7—that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

14. Our Reaction to Suffering • 1 Peter 4:12-13--Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. • Don’t be surprised • Rejoice

15. Rejoice • Rejoice in Your Relationship with Christ • Try to imagine suffering without Christ • It should not be hard, we see people in the world doing it everyday. • They are in the waiting rooms of the hospitals, they are in the funeral homes. • How do they make it? • They don’t • They engage in denial—not desiring to face reality. • They vent their anger at God • They try to escape through alcohol and other artificial means. • The one thing that they cannot do is to find joy in the midst of pain. • They do not have the foundation of Christ! Therefore there is no peace in the hour of suffering!

16. Rejoice • We can rejoice in salvation during times of suffering. (1:5) • We can rejoice in our eternal inheritance in times of suffering. (1:4) • We can rejoice in the opportunity to grow in times of suffering. (James 1:2-4) • We can rejoice in the opportunity to strengthen others in times of suffering (2 Cor. 1:4) • We can rejoice in the end result of faith filled endurance through suffering (1:7). • We can rejoice in the glory that is given to God during suffering. (Acts 5:41)

17. Remember • We need to remember that suffering allows us to draw on divine strength. • 1 Peter 4:14—If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

18. Robert Harkrider: The abiding presence of the Lord is hereby promised to men who are ridiculed for the name of Christ. (1st, 2nd Peter, 1st, 2nd, 3rd John and Jude, page 44) • Clinton Hamilton: Peter says that when men are ridiculed for the name of Christ, the Spirit of glory and God rests on them. This indicates approval and the sharing with the Lord in cause. (Truth Commentary, pages 260-261)

19. Guy N. Woods: Since the Spirit is promised to those who are faithful, and abides with those who are persecuted, his presence is a token of the blessedness of those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. The verb “resteth” is of special significance here, being translated from the same word as this used in the Greek version of the Old Testament of the abiding presence of the Lord. (Isa. 11:2) (Gospel Advocate Commentary on 1 Peter, page 117) • Wilson Adams: As you look back upon the darkest chapters of your life, even now you may fail to comprehend how you were able to cope. But you did and I know how you did. You were able to survive because you drew on God’s strength. He brought you through dark days and darker nights. He comforted your pain and eased your loneliness.” (Present the Truth, 2000 Florida College Lectures, page 57)

20. Remember • We need to remember that suffering allows us to draw on divine strength. • We need to remember that suffering for wrong is deserved. • 1 Peter 4:15—But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. • Ref. 1 Peter 2:20; • We need to remember that suffering for right is rewarded. • 1 Peter 4:16—Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

21. Remember • We need to remember that suffering allows us to draw on divine strength. • We need to remember that suffering for wrong is deserved. • We need to remember that suffering for right is rewarded. • We need to remember that suffering with Christ does not compare to suffering without Christ. • 1 Peter 4:17-18—For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

22. Our Reliance • 1 Peter 4:19 --Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. • Entrust—to deposit. • Luke 23:46— And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, p‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” qHaving said this, He breathed His last.

23. Gifts of God’s Grace • Pain Transforms. • Pain makes us look at ourselves and ask the tough questions. • Pain causes us to appreciate the small gifts of His grace. • Pain allows us to serve.

24. Ideas for this sermon came from lectures presented by Johnny Felker at the SITS conference in Johnson City, TN., and Wilson Adams’ lecture entitled ‘Count It All Joy’ at the 2000 Florida College Lectures.