TURNING TRIALS INTO TRIUMPHS
James 1:2-12

    Popular preaching and teaching proclaims that the Christian life is without problems.

    However, looking at it Biblically, one finds that God is the author of "strange ministries".
    Through these ministries God intends that the believer gets the best out of the worst.
    Blessings may come as Kings appearing as beggars; as Princes dressed at paupers.
    Blessings can be wrapped in the rags of a curse.   Sorrow is a disguise that real joy wears.
    Through trials, affliction and suffering God desires to accomplish something otherwise
    not possible in our lives.   God never wastes time and never wastes experiences - if we will
    but respond correctly.   God is the Sovereign God of Providence.   God wills it and, except
    it be because of sin and chastisement, the Christian must consider trials and suffering as
    natural and normal.

    The difference in being happy or being unhappy is not the absence of trouble and
    problems.   The difference lies in what you do with it.

    TWO WAYS TO REACT

    1. God's way - accomplishes many things for good.
    2. World's way - reaction of carnality and the old nature is to question, doubt and
      complain which results in resentment, bitterness and premature death.

    Recognize That Circumstances Are Not Just Chance: God Is In Control

    1. They are of God.
    2. They are good.

    GOD WILLS THAT:

    1. Trials be turned to triumph,
    2. Victims become victors,
    3. Crosses become crowns,
    4. Suffering is to become glory,
    5. Battle is to be the means of victory. 
      James 1:2 - Count
        1:3 - Know
        1:4,9 - Let
        1:5,6 -Ask

    Four Essentials For Victory Over Trials

    1. Joyful attitude - v. 2
    2. An Understanding mind - v. 3
    3. A Surrendered will - v. 4
    4. A heart that wants to Believe.   V. 6-8.

  1. Count It All Joy.   James 1:2 - A Joyful Attitude.

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    1. Outlook determines outcome[,] attitude will determine action.
    2. Trials are to be expected.   v. 2; I Peter 4:12.
    3. "when ye fall into divers temptations;" v. 2b.   Various and varicolored.   (Example:
      Like variegated yarn weaver uses to make rugs, blankets or serapes.  Look at it from
      below - seems to be no pattern, only loose ends, rough, nothing visible to appreciate.
      Look from above - the intended side to be viewed, the pattern, design, beauty and
      purpose is seen.)   So God arranges and blends experiences and happenings in our
      lives so that faith may be exercised and grow.
    4. Values determine evaluations.
      1. If you value comfort more than character, trials will not be allowed to
        accomplish the purpose of God.
      2. If you value the material and physical more than spiritual, one will be most
        miserable during testings.
      3. If you live for the present, rather than the future, trials will produce bitterness
        rather than betterment.

  1. Know.   James 1:3.   An Understanding Mind.

    1. Faith is always tested.   If not being tested, maybe it is a sign that there has never been
      saving faith.
    2. God tested Abraham in order to bless and to increase his faith through exercise.
      1. God tests to bring out the best.
      2. Satan tests and tempts to bring out the worst.
    3. Testing works for us - not against us.   Rom. 8:28.
    4. Trials rightly used help us to mature.   Rom. 5:3,4.
      1. Purpose, patience, endurance, preparation, perseverance, enablement (Get up,
        get started, continue, keep on going, finish the race).
      2. Patience is not a passive, fatalistic acceptance of circumstances.   It is courageous
        perseverance in the face of suffering and difficulty.
      3. Impatience and unbelief always go together.   Heb. 6:12; 10:36; Is. 28:16.

  2. Let.   James 1:4   A Surrendered Will.

    God cannot work in us without our consent.   If we encounter trials without surrendered
    wills, we will behave as spoiled, rotten, selfish, self-centered, immature children.

  3. Ask.   James 1:5,6   A Heart That Wants To Believe.

    1. What should we pray for?   WISDOM   (Why not grace or strength?)
    2. Knowledge is the ability to take things apart; wisdom the ability to put them back together
      again.
    3. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.
    4. We need wisdom so we will not waste the opportunities God gives for our good, for
      our growth and for His glory.
    5. God allows things to come to build us up.   Satan uses things to tear us down.
    6. What will our reaction be?
      1. God's way or the way of the old nature.

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      1. Destruction, devastation, deviousness, detour - vs. exercise, edification,
        enablement, exaltation.
    1. Three kinds of faith are found in James' Epistle.
      1. Dead faith - only has to do with intellect.
      2. Demonic faith - has to do with emotions.
      3. Dynamic faith - reaches the will.
    2. Real faith will be seen.
      1. Mind understands the truth.
      2. Heart will desire and respond to the truth.
      3. [The] Will will act upon the truth.

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