Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 18, Issue 05, February 10, 2008
"Profiting From Your Problems" It is good to have you with us again. In today’s session we are going to discover the secret to enable us to profit from our problems. For our Information source we will look again to the book of James. This has got to be the most practical book in the New Testament.
When you write a letter you normally figure that the guy is going to warm up and ease into his subject. But, James drops a bomb in verse 2. He announces who he is and then he says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
How would you like to get a letter like that? "This is a letter from me... You got problems? Be happy!"
How? There's no way I could be happy. You don't know my situation. The key is the phrase "because you know". "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
Your attitude is determined by your understanding.
Rejoicing is not just positive thinking - it is based on some facts of life.
FOUR "FACTS OF LIFE" YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Problems are inevitable Scripture doesn't say, "If you encounter problems" it says whenever -- in other words - count on it, you are going to have problems.
If you don't have problems, check your pulse. It is a fact of life. Jesus said "In the world you will have tribulation." Peter said, "Don't be surprised when you have problems." Count on it. Problems are not an elective in life. They are a required course.
2. Problems are unpredictable. He says, "...whenever you face problems ..." The word "face" in the Greek it literally means "to fall into unexpectedly".
Problems are unplanned and unpredictable. We don't plan to get sick or have a flat. That's what makes a problem a problem.
3. Problems of many kinds They come in all shapes and sizes.
"Many kinds" literally means "multi colored". They vary in intensity and in duration. Some are minor inconveniences. Some are major crises.
Problems definitely come in more than 31 flavors.
4. Problems are purposeful
Problems purify my faith. He uses the word "testing", as in testing gold and silver. You would heat them up very hot until the impurities -- the dross -- was burned off.
Job said "He has tested me through the refining fire and I have come out as pure gold." The first things trials do is test our faith. Christians are a lot like tea bags. You don't know what's inside of them until you drop them in hot water.
Then you know.
Your faith develops when things don't go as planned.
Your faith develops when you don't feel like doing what's right. It purifies your faith.
Christians are like steel; when they're tested they come out stronger.
We've been in a test for over a year.
We've been in a course on character development. God is much more interested in building disciples than He is in building buildings.
Problems purify our faith.
Problems fortify our patience. ...the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James is talking about staying power, not a passive patience, but staying power, endurance. The ability to keep on keeping on, hanging in there.
The Greek here is literally "the ability to stay under pressure."
People don't like pressure and they do everything they can to avoid it. They run from it, take drugs, drink alcohol, go to Disneyland, anything to get away from pressure.
But God uses problems in our lives to teach us how to handle pressure, how to never give up.
There was a time in my life I prayed for patience, and the problems got worse. Finally, after a while, I realized I was a lot more patient than when I first started out.
How does God teach you patience?
By everything going your way? No. God teaches you patience in traffic jams, grocery lines, the waiting periods of life.
Problems sanctify my character.
They make me like Jesus.
They help me mature.
They help me to grow.
"The testing of your faith produces perseverance that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
That's God's long range goal. His ultimate purpose is maturity. In the Christian life, character is the bottom line.
So many Christians have absolutely no idea of God's agenda in their life. They don't know what's happening and as a result they are overwhelmed by their problems.
God's number one purpose in my life and in your life is to make you and I like Jesus Christ.
God is much more interested in building my character than in making me comfortable.
If God is going to make me like Jesus, He's going to take me through the things Jesus went through. There were times when Jesus was lonely, tempted to be depressed and discouraged.
So many Christians say, "Everything was going great when I first became a believer. Then all of these problems came. Maybe God doesn't love me. Maybe I'm not a Christian.
You are exactly where God wants you. You're in a character course. He's making you like Jesus.
Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good" [not all things are good but they work together for good] if we love God and are called according to His purpose."
The secret of Romans 8:28 is 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow He did predestine to become conformed to the image of the Son of God."
Q. Why do all things work together for good?
A. In order to make me like Christ.
How does God teach us the fruit of the spirit? By putting us in the exact opposite situation.
If God wants to teach you love, He puts you around unlovely people. If He wants to teach you peace, God puts you around chaos.
HOW TO HANDLE YOUR PROBLEMS
(The 3 Rs) Rejoice Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials... He's not saying, Fake it.
God never asks you to deny reality. He's also not talking about masochism. "Good! I get to suffer! I just love to suffer! I feel so spiritual when I feel bad!"
We don't rejoice for the problem, we rejoice in the problem. We don't thank God for the situation we thank God in the situation. I Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus. It does not say, "For everything give thanks." It says "In everything give thanks." Why?
It means we can thank God because we know that He can even take the bad in our lives and turn it around and bring good out of it. The source of your problems doesn’t really matter.
God can use them for your growth and His glory.
What makes a difference?
Your attitude. It says, Consider it pure joy...
Consideration is a choice.
Although I cannot control the circumstances, I can control how I respond to them.
Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
You'll either be bitter or better. The difference between bitter and better is the letter "i".
I make the difference -- my attitude.
Request Pray. v. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.
You ought to pray for wisdom so you won't waste the opportunity to grow. If you don't learn it this time there’ll be one more lap around the mountain! O’ God make me a quick learner!
Wisdom is seeing life from God's point of view. Pray for wisdom to understand the problem.
Relax Trust God to know what's best for your life. Co-operate with His purpose, don't short circuit the process. Relax, let God work. (that’s faith)
God sees everything you're going through. He's got your number! The very hairs of your head are numbered. God has the power to do something about your problem. He could change it in a snap. He's a miracle working God. So why doesn't He? Because there's a greater purpose. The greater purpose is what He wants to do in you.
God is more interested in building your character than in making life comfortable.
There is a fantastic promise in v. 12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. When he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." God says there will be a reward.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know You care about us and are allowing these situations in our lives, not to break us but to make us. Not to destroy us, but to develop us. Lord, help us to be triumphant under trials. Help us to learn how to profit from our problems.
Work in our lives for our growth and Your glory. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that it is clear. It is relevant. It applies to our lives. It helps us. Lord, encourage us this week as we meditate on this message in Jesus' name. Amen
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