Consider it Joy
Text: Mark 15:42-16:8
Core Idea: We are called to consider our trials pure joy because God is testing our faith, producing perseverance, and maturing us through our trials. Then as we consider the One who endured the cross for our sake, let us stand firm and find comfort in the One who promises to be in the fire with us.
INTRODUCTION
Today, we begin a new sermon series on the book of James which will last us through the summer. Now, why the Book of James? Do you recall our church’s vision? “Lighthouse Toronto seeks to be a GOSPEL-shaped community sent out by God to glorify and enjoy Him forever.” I chose this book because we want to be a gospel-shaped community. We went through the Gospel of Mark in order to learn what the gospel is – namely that Jesus Christ died for us by substituting His place with us and rose from the grave so that we can be forgiven and have life and life to the full. But we must remember that the primary purpose of the Word isn’t information but transformation – it’s not enough just to know the truth; the truth must now begin to change us. If we’ve been saved by the gospel, we must let the gospel now influence and shape our sense of identity, the way we make decisions, the way we do friendships, the way we approach our education, the way we pursue our jobs and careers, the way we approach romance and marriage, the way we parent our children, the way we deal with conflict and failure, the way we look for fulfillment and pleasure, the things that we do with our money, and more. The gospel should change the way we think about the past, interpret the present, and view the future. The gospel should cause us to live with greater hope, greater courage, greater love, and greater joy. Then let me ask you, “Do you sense that the gospel is shaping you today? Or are you content with just knowing the gospel?” The truth is that many of us still see a huge gap between what we say we believe and the way we actually live. Then listen very carefully to what Pastor Paul Tripp writes, “I am persuaded that the gap between the doctrine we say we believe and the way we actually live is a workroom for the enemy. The enemy of your soul will gladly give you your formal theology if, in your real daily life, he can control the thoughts and motives of your heart and, in so doing, control the way you act, react, and respond.” That is a scary thought. Then I chose this book because I firmly believe that it will help us close that gap. James may not necessarily teach us what the gospel is, but he will show us how the gospel affects our lives. It’s a very practical book. Then with that in mind, let’s open our Bibles to James 1:1-4. Let me read this for us.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let’s look at verse 1, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This brief introduction tells us that the author is incredibly humble because if he wanted to impress his readers, he could’ve informed them of many things – that he was Jesus’ half-brother, that he was an apostle, that he was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. But he doesn’t mention any of this. Instead, he shares one thing that matters to him the most – that he is a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this confession is mind-blowing considering that James was a Jew. Unlike the Greeks who believed in many gods, the Jews believed in one God – the God who is infinitely glorious and powerful. So, it was unthinkable for them to believe that God can come in the form of a man. But that’s exactly what Jesus did – and James believed Him. But what must have made this even more difficult was the fact that he grew up with Jesus – Jesus was his big brother. Now, we all know that if anybody is going to see our sins, it’s our little brother. This is true because unfortunately we often don’t treat them well – I know this because that was me. In fact, listen to what Mark 3:21 says, “When His family heard about this [Jesus ministering], they went to take charge of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’” At one point, James thought Jesus was crazy – but something happened that turned his life upside down. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:7, “[After Jesus resurrected,] He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” In other words, when James saw that Jesus conquered the grave, his questions turned to conviction. Jesus became His Lord.
Now, this humble man was writing to those he cared for deeply – “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations.” It appears that they were initially part of the church in Jerusalem, but they were scattered to different parts of the world because of the persecution. Following the stoning of Stephen, Acts 8:1 says, “On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” In other words, these Jewish Christians were unexpectedly scattered due to great and violent persecution. Their lives have been abruptly and dramatically changed. They were forced to relocate – having to leave their homes and livelihoods. They were forced to be separated from their loved ones. And they no doubt wondered, “Why? Why is this happening to us?” So, James wrote this letter to care for them – to instruct them how they ought to live in their harsh circumstances. But what they didn’t anticipate was how James would begin his letter. Verse 2, “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Let me point out three things from this passage:
· THE REALITY OF TRIALS
· THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS
· THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO TRIALS
Now, just a word about the style of the sermon. Obviously, the book of James is not like the Gospel of Mark in that it’s not a story – it’s a letter written to teach specific truths to the readers. This is very important to remember because I’m going to carefully follow the logic that James uses to communicate his points – which means that even though I’m focusing on only a few verses, it would be very helpful for you to keep your eyes on the passage and see for yourself where each point comes from. So, I encourage you to keep your Bibles open and be like the Bereans who “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).
1) THE REALITY OF TRIALS
We learn three things about trials from verse 2. First, trials are inevitable. Notice that James doesn’t say, “if” trials come, but “when.” In other words, there’s no way to avoid it – we will encounter trials in life. This is a consistent message throughout the Bible. For example, Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble.” And Peter said in 1 Peter 4:12, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” We shouldn’t be surprised when trials come – we should expect it. Now, some of you may be thinking, “I know everybody suffers. You don’t have to remind me of the obvious.” But if we’re honest with ourselves, even though we know that trials are inevitable and that we shouldn’t be surprised by them, every time we face a new trial, we are freshly surprised by it – each trial still feels shocking and painful which is why we often don’t know what to do with our trials. So, to open their eyes and guard their hearts, James first points out that trials are inevitable.
Second, trials come in many different kinds. Although James was speaking to the people who were facing persecution, he wasn’t limiting this truth to that particular kind of trial. Instead, he was referring to all kinds of sufferings – physical, emotional, relational, financial, marriage, parental, spiritual problems, etc. Trials of all kinds can happen to all people because we live in a broken and sinful world.
Third, trials come unexpectedly. The Greek word that’s translated as “whenever you face” is an interesting word that also means “to fall upon, to encounter suddenly.” In other words, James was reminding us that trials will almost always come unexpectedly which means that it will be impossible for us to be prepared – which by the way is something that I learned painfully in my marriage when Alicia and I had a miscarriage. We weren’t ready for this because no one prepared us for this. And it was excruciatingly agonizing to navigate out of that season. Maybe some of you feel like that right now. You’re going through a certain trial, and it feels like you’re walking through a dark valley – you feel lost, scared, and alone. And what makes this even more difficult is the fact that you have no idea how you’re going to find your way out. This burden feels unbearable – and you can’t help but ask, “God, how could You let this happen to me? I can understand if you let me go through small afflictions and disappointments to strengthen my faith and shape my character. But this is just too heavy. Can’t You see that this is crushing me? Why would You allow this in my life? I thought You loved me.” We complain like this because the Bible clearly teaches us that God is in constant and active control over everything that happens in this world. We know that God is never surprised, never frustrated. He has nothing He can’t figure out and nothing that leaves Him confused. Then why would a loving God let something so terrible take place in my life? Couldn’t there be another way? James tells us that each trial comes with a divine purpose.
2) THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS
Verse 3, “You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James shares three reasons why God allows trials in our lives. Now, as a warning, I do want to share that this won’t all of a sudden help you make sense of your trials. Knowing these reasons won’t take away the sorrow because the pain is still too real. Then why am I sharing this? Because we can truly consider all trials pure joy only when we begin to see that each trial comes with a divine purpose. If we believe that all trials are meaningless, we will never know how to give thanks or remain joyful in all circumstances. Again, this doesn’t mean that you’ll see these purposes being fulfilled in your trials right now but just because you can’t see doesn’t mean that it’s not happening. Then my prayer is that we will embrace these reasons in faith – to know that our trials are not wasted but that God is doing something for His glory and our good. So, with that in mind, let me share three things. First, trials will test our faith. In verse 3, James refers to trials as “the testing of your faith.” The Greek word that’s translated as “testing” was often used in the context of a silversmith in ancient times. Then imagine a silversmith who’s putting all the silver into a pot and boiling it under a strong fire. What happens is that all the impurities (called dross) will be separated and begin to float while the silver sinks – making it easy for the silversmith to scoop them out. In fact, he would repeat this process over and over again until the silver is refined. And it’s said that the silversmith would know that the silver was truly tested, purified when he is able to see his own reflection in it. Then using this imagery, James is inviting us to see that the trials in our lives are a way for God to test us, refine us, and purify us. It’s so that all the impurities – our sins would burn away. And the result will be that when God sees us, He’ll be able to see His own reflection in us. In other words, it’s making us more like Christ. This is what our trials are accomplishing in our lives.
Second, trials will produce perseverance. The word “perseverance” in Greek is “hupomone” which literally means “to hyper-stand” or “to stand firm.” In other words, perseverance is the ability to plant your feet and endure all things no matter what may be coming your way – which is why, in much of the ancient literature, this word would often be used by a commander who would say to his soldiers in a battle, “Hupomone! Stand your ground! No matter what, don’t give up!” It was a call to press on. Then in the same way, James is teaching us that trials will produce that kind of perseverance in us – the ability to hyper-stand, to stand firm, and not give up when the battle begins. What does this mean practically? It’s to have the power to live out the call that God has given us no matter the circumstances. It’s to have the strength to carry on the purpose that we have in Christ no matter the cost. It’s to have the faith to remain obedient to His Word no matter the concerns. It’s to say, “Whenever God calls me, wherever God calls me to go, whatever God calls me to do, I will obey because I trust in His sovereign grace for my life.” Perseverance is the ability to do exactly that – and this is what’s being produced in us through our trials. It’s enabling us to press on in all circumstances.
Third, trials will make us more mature and complete – not lacking in anything. What does this mean? The word “mature” in Greek means “perfect or without blemish” while the word “complete” in Greek means “whole or without defect.” Then these two words are conveying the same idea. It’s the idea of sanctification – the process of making us holy. Christianity doesn’t ultimately aim to make us happy but holy. Happiness definitely comes in our pursuit of holiness but the goal that drives us and motivates us is our desire to be holy as our God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Well, James is telling us that that’s exactly what God is doing through our trials – making us holy, shaping our character, and equipping us to be effective in the call that He has given us. Then let me give you two practical examples of how trials are helping us grow in our character. First, humility. Paul was a brilliant man – according to his own words, he was “a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (Phil. 3:5-6). And yet he also shares in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, “In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” He tells us that in order to keep him humble, God allowed a thorn in his flesh to remain. In order to guard his heart against pride, God allowed Paul to experience trials. And as a result, God’s power was displayed through his weakness. Trials produce humility. Second, compassion. Because of the pain we go through, we’re now able to understand, empathize, and be compassionate toward others who may be going through the same pain – in ways that we were not able to do so before. Because of our trials, we’re now able to relate to them and care for them better. Trials produce compassion.
Brothers and sisters, our trials will not be wasted. God will use our trials to purify us, strengthen us, and grow us so that we would be made more like Christ. Charles Spurgeon said, “It would be a very sharp and trying experience to me to think that I have an affliction that was never sent by God, that the bitter cup was never filled by His hand, that my trials were never measured out by Him nor sent to me by His arrangement of their weight and their quantity.” Our trials are measured out by God for His good purpose. Think about the story of Job. From Job’s perspective, he felt like his world was turning upside down. His wealth vanished, his children were killed, his marriage was in a wreck, and his body was sick. He could’ve seen this as the end of his life. But do you remember the conversation that took place between God and Satan? God said to Satan, “You can do whatever you want; but don’t take away his life.” From Job’s perspective, it seemed like his life was being ruined; but from God’s perspective, He always had a clear and perfect boundary to Job’s suffering. In other words, the process of sanctification is a precise work of God. We must realize that He has drawn a perfect boundary to our pain so that we don’t suffer more or less than we should, but just enough to take away our sins, protect us from falling into temptations, and make us holy. Even if you can’t see that, that’s what God is accomplishing through your trials. I pray that you would have the faith to believe this. Our trials come with a divine purpose.
3) THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO TRIALS
One thing I shared in the beginning was that it’s not enough for us to just know the truth but that we must respond accordingly. Pastor Tim Keller writes, “The stakes are high here. Suffering will either leave you a much better person or a much worse one than you were before. Trials and troubles in life, which are inevitable, will either make you or break you. But either way, you will not remain the same.” Brothers and sisters, the stakes are high because trials will either make us or break us. They will either make us better or worse – but either way, you and I will not remain the same. Then what’s the appropriate way to respond so that we don’t waste our trials?
Verse 2, “Consider it pure joy.” Let’s be honest – that is not how we normally respond to a trial. In fact, our initial response to a trial often is to complain. But James tells us that we ought to consider it pure joy. What does that mean? First of all, it doesn’t mean that we’re called to enjoy our trials as if we’re happy to suffer. No, this is not a call to hide our sorrows and griefs. He’s not telling us to be more optimistic and just think about happy and peaceful thoughts during trials. We know this to be true because he didn’t say, “Feel it pure joy” but rather, “Consider it pure joy.” The word “consider” in Greek means “to think or to regard as.” In other words, James is inviting us to guard our minds and fight to think of our trials as pure joy. It’s a call to be transformed in our perception of trials. Now, this is not easy. It’s not easy because we prefer comfort over holiness. We would rather have a plan that goes the way we desired than a plan that goes sideways for the purpose of refinement. We would rather be affirmed by people than live in a way that pleases God. We are more drawn to the pleasures of this world than the grace of God. We would rather avoid trials than persevere through them. Then how can anyone truly consider these painful trials as pure joy? It feels utterly impossible. But here’s the point: this command becomes possible to obey only when God becomes the goal of our lives, the treasure of our hearts. If our goal is to get our circumstances fixed for our benefit, this command couldn’t be more discouraging. But when we believe that God truly is the treasure of our hearts, that there’s nothing that we desire from this world, that God truly is everything to us, that He alone is worthy of our lives, then we’ll begin to consider our trials pure joy knowing that He is refining us – shaping us to become more and more like His Son. The only reason we can consider our trials pure joy is because we trust Him. Our faith in Him will transform the perception of our trials and our faith in Him will strengthen us to consider our trials pure joy.
Brothers and sisters, because Pastor Jane and I know you and have the privilege to serve you, we are aware that many of you are walking on hard roads. You’re carrying a heavy burden. And as you look out into the future, there seems to be no end in sight. Then here’s my prayer for you today – that the Spirit will give you the faith to believe that the very trial that you’re going through is refining you to become more like Christ, that it’s producing perseverance for you to be able to stand firm, and that it’s making you holy for His glory. You may not see how that’s possible but don’t let your sight rob you of the joy that comes from your faith. So, I encourage you to fight the good fight. Don’t give up. Let God work in and through you for He desires to complete the good work that He already started.
Then let me end by sharing this very well-known story from Daniel 3. The setting is Babylon and there was a king named Nebuchadnezzar who was full of himself. So, he put up a big gold statue of himself and ordered everyone to bow down to it and worship him. In fear, most of the people fell before the statue – except for three young Jewish men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). They refused to bow. So, they were brought into the presence of the king – and the king said, “Is it true that you didn’t fall before my statue? Because I’m a merciful king, I’ll give you one more chance. But if you don’t, I’ll throw all three of you to a burning furnace.” And the three men said, “We don’t need to defend ourselves in this matter. If we’re thrown into the blazing furnace, the God that we serve is able to deliver us from it. But even if He does not, we will never bow before the statue that you have set up.” That is hupomone. They’ve planted their feet. But this made Nebuchadnezzar furious. So, he commanded his soldiers to bind them and throw them into the furnace – and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. This is what Daniel 3:23-25 says, “And these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ [After they walked out,] they saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” If you read this carefully, you’ll notice that there was only one thing that was burned off when those three men went into the fire – the chains that bound them. When they were thrown into the fire, they were tested and purified. Now, the text tells us that there was a fourth person with them who looked like a son of the gods. But here’s the important part. Notice that this fourth person didn’t come out even when the three did – he remained in the fire. Even though Daniel didn’t know, we know that this fourth person is none other than Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ endured a great trial on the cross not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually as He was mocked by the very people He came to save and saw His Father turn His face away. This trial was unbearable – yet He persevered through it. Why? Hebrews 12:2-3 explains, “For the joy set before Him He endured [hupomone] the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” What was this joy that was set before Him? It’s to see us with Him for eternity – it’s so that you and I won’t grow weary and lose heart. We are His joy. Brothers and sisters, then I invite you to consider Him. He will give us the strength and faith to now consider our trials pure joy. We are made possible to do this because He now is our joy. So, remember what He has done. See Him with you. And you’ll be able to stand.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, we are called to consider our trials pure joy because God is testing our faith, producing perseverance, and maturing us through our trials. Then as we consider the One who endured the cross for our sake, let us stand firm and find comfort in the One who promises to be in the fire with us.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Why is it dangerous to see a gap between what we say we believe and the way we actually live?
2) Are you going through a trial right now? If so, how is this affecting you physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Do you feel that this trial is strengthening your faith or causing you to be distant from God?
3) When you look back to the past trials of your life, do you believe that God used them to refine you, strengthen you, and mature you? How? What will help us believe that our current trials come with a divine purpose?
4) How can we consider our trials pure joy today? Reflect on Daniel 3 and Hebrews 12:2-3. And pray for each other.