Joy When Faith Is Tried
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
11/10/2013 PM
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Text:
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James 1:2-4
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Psalters: |
16, 31, 210, 64 |
Confession of Faith |
- The occasion.
- “Diverse temptations.”
- This refers to situations which test or prove us, an occasion to test our fidelity, virtue, constancy, integrity.
- “Diverse” is manifold, various – a host of different forms and variations.
- “Fall” is to be encompassed or surrounded.
- “Count it all joy!” (would think that he would have said,
- When our lot is trials to our faith, then we have reason to rejoice.
- Before we respond in disgust at the apparent lack of understanding, remember that Jesus is saying this.
- Rejoice when you face temptations, not because of the temptations.
- The reason we can rejoice is because we know that the “trying of your faith worketh patience.”
- Faith is tried.
- Faith is the power which unites us to Christ and the activity of holding for truth God’s Word and trusting it truth for ourselves.
- When our faith is tried, it is called to be exercised, namely, to be conscious of God’s relationship with us.
- Second, a tried faith works patience.
- From our perspective the sufferings of this present time are temptations, but God sees them as trials.
- Patience is perseverance, staying power, faith bearing up and responding to severe trials.
- The “perfect work” of patience is faith being brought to completeness, lacking nothing.
- Patience works (it does not just sit and wait).
- Patience’ perfect work is to complete us, i.e., to bring us to spiritual maturity, molded into Christ’s image.
- Afflictions make us mature: more sympathetic, more humble, more grateful, more hopeful.
- Patience is faith in action during trials, enduring them by holding on to God’s promises.
- Patience feeds on the Word of God.
- In this way faith is brought to completion, i.e., to maturity.