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foreign hello and good evening everyone and welcome to the uh welcome back to the evening service we're so happy you could join us this evening we're going to start things off by reading a Psalm our call to worship and this evening we will be reading from psalm 111. that's psalm 111. praise the Lord I will praise the Lord with my whole heart and the Assembly of the upright and in the congregation The Works of the Lord are great studied by all who have pleasure in them his work is Honorable and glorious and is righteous endures forever he has made his wonderful Works to be remembered the Lord is gracious and full of compassion he has given food to those who fear Him he will be ever mindful of his Covenant he has declared to his people the power of His Works in giving them the heritage of the Nations The Works of his hands are Verity and Justice all his precepts are sure they stand fast forever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness he has sent Redemption to his people he has commanded his Covenant forever holy and awesome is his name the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding of all those who do his Commandments his praise and jurors forever amen I'll ask that you turn with me in your hymn book to him number 46 C that is him 46 C [Music] neighborhood this way foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign let's go to our Lord in prayer our heavenly father we acknowledge you as the one true and living God you are all-powerful all-knowing Transcendent and never changing you are the same today yesterday and forever and we thank you for the security and the reassurance we can have in a God who who does not change his mind who will not break his promises or go back on his word who saves his elect through grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone and we thank you Lord for the freedom that we have to gather together here this evening and worship you and and to hear your word preach to us I thank you Lord for all the saints that have gathered here this evening and for all the saints abroad as well I pray Lord that you would give Grace to all your saints that you would build us and conform us to your will and that you would be our our light into our path and our guide through life's valleys and Peaks please be our Rock and our solid foundation for us and for those abroad especially who suffer persecution poverty and a great hardship on a daily basis we thank you Lord for the church plants we want to bring those forward to you we think of our brethren in in Surrey and in Dryden and in Armstrong and Honduras please give Graces Grace to these churches as well we pray that you would continue to build them and I pray that you would Grant wisdom to the men leading them and that many would hear the gospel through their faithful preaching and Lord I want to bring all the children that are here this evening to you I pray Lord that you would um protect them and and guard them from a society who looks to corrupt them at every turn and I pray Lord that instead that you would plant a gospel seed in their hearts and that you would cause it to grow and for all the mothers here this evening and those with child that um both mother and child would be happy and healthy to term and Lord for any Among Us who are sick or unwell or or have uh Heavy Hearts I pray Lord that you would give peace to them relief and healing and I pray Lord that the rest this evening and our time here together would bring much glory and honor to your name and I pray this in Jesus holy name amen our next hymn this evening is 216. that's him 216. [Music] because it is [Music] [Applause] know yeah [Music] the last word on Earth praise to the Lord [Music] is released [Music] raises again [Music] God foreign for this evening's scripture reading we'll be reading from the book of numbers and it will be chapter 21 and we will read the entirety of the chapter that is numbers 21. the king of Arad the Canaanite who dwelt in the South heard that Israel was coming on the road to etherum then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners so Israel made a vow to the Lord and said if you will indeed deliver this people into my hand then I will utterly destroy their cities and the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites and they utterly destroyed them and their cities so the name of the place was called horma then they journeyed from Mount Horror by the way of the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way and the people spoke against God and against Moses why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness for there is no food and no water and our soul lows this worthless bread so the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people and many of the people of Israel died therefore the people came to Moses and said we have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against you pray to the Lord that he take away the serpents from us so Moses prayed for the people then the Lord said to Moses make a fiery Serpent and set it on a pole and it shall be that everyone who is bitten when he looks at it shall live so Moses made a bronze Serpent and put it on a pole and so it was if a serpent had bitten anyone when he looked at the bronze serpent he lived now the children of Israel moved on and camped in obath and they journeyed from obos and Captain in the wilderness which is east of Moab toward the sunrise from there they moved and camped in the valley of zared from there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the amorites for the Arnon is the border of Moab between Moab and the amorites therefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord Rahab and sufa the Brooks of the Arnon and the slope of the Brooks that reached the dwelling of R and lies on the border of Moab from there they went to beer which is what is is the well where the Lord said to Moses gather the people together and I will give them water then Israel sang the song spring up oh well all of you sing to it the well the leader sank dug by the nation's Nobles by the law Giver with their staves and from the Wilderness they went to Matana and from Matana to nihalil from nahalia to beimoth and from bemoth in the valley that is in the country of Moab to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the Wasteland then Israel sent Messengers to sihon King of the amrites saying let me pass through your land we will not turn aside into fields or Vineyards we will not drink water from Wells we will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory but saihan would not allow Israel to pass through his territory so saihan gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness and he came to jahaz and fought against Israel then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from Arnon to the Java as far as the people of Ammon for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified so Israel took all these cities and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the amorites in heshban and in all its Villages for heshbon was the city of sihon King of the amrites who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon therefore those who speak in Proverbs say come to heshbon let it be built let the city of sihon be repaired for fire went out from heshbon a flame from the city of sihon it consumed R of Moab the Lords of the heights of the Arnon woe to you Moab you have perished o people of kimosh he has given his sons as fugitives and his daughters into captivity so cyhon King of the amorites but we have shot at them heshbon has perished as far as daibon then we laid waste as far as nofa which reaches to medieva thus Israel dwelt in the land of the amrites then Moses sent to spy Al jazer and they took its Villages and drove out the amorites who were who were there and they turned and went up by the way of Bashan so OGG King abhishan went out against them he and all his people to battle at Adria then the Lord said to Moses do not fear Him for I have delivered him into your hand with all his people and his land and you shall do to him as you did to saihan King of the amorites who dwelt in heshbon so they defeated his sons and all his people until there was no Survivor left him and they took possession of his land amen let's go to our Lord in prayer our heavenly father we come before you again and uh we thank you for this god-breathed word that you've given down to us and Lord I pray that before the preaching of the word that you would lift the veil from our eyes and and clear any fog from our mind so that we would see and and hear and comprehend clearly and I pray Lord that you would bless Pastor Butler as he comes forward and that you would use him as an instrument to unveil the glories found in your word I pray this in Jesus holy name amen and the last hymn before the preaching will be him to Pardon Me 378. Tim 378. foreign [Music] thank you Jesus Christ foreign [Music] foreign foreign [Music] foreign our focus is going to be verses two to eight but I want to read the chapter we'll pray and then we'll look at this section in some detail so the Book of James beginning in chapter 1 verse 1. James a bond servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Twelve Tribes which are scattered abroad greetings my brethren counted all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him but let him ask in faith with no doubting for He Who doubts is like a wave of the seed driven and tossed by the wind for let not that man suppose he will that he will receive anything from the Lord he is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation but the rich in his humiliation because because as a flower of the field he will pass away for no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat then it Withers the grass its flower Falls and its beautiful appearance perishes so the rich man also will fade away in his Pursuits blessed is the man who endures Temptation for when he has been approved he will receive the Crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love him let no one say when he is tempted I am tempted by God for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does he himself tempt anyone but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed then when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown brings forth death do not be deceived my beloved Brethren every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures so then my beloved Brethren let every man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror for he observes himself goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was but he who looks into the perfect law of Liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this one will be blessed in what he does If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not Bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart this one's religion is useless pure and undefiled religion before God and the father is this to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world Amen well let us pray a gracious God and our Holy Father we thank you again for this day for the privilege of gathering in the house of God to worship you father Son and Holy Spirit we pray for your blessing now as we consider this section of Holy scripture we pray that you would encourage and strengthen our hearts she would help us to deal with the various things that face Us in this lower world and to do so in a manner that is consistent with the written word of the Living God forgive us for all of our sins and all of our transgression cleanse Us in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and how we Rejoice that you made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him certainly all praise and all glory and all honor goes to our blessed God for the Salvation of Sinners we take no credit we Pat are not able to Pat ourselves on the back there's no contribution that we have made to this wonderful scheme we give all praise to our blessed savior who live for us who died for us and who was raised again the third day for us and we know that he will come back in glory to judge the living and the dead and he will bring his church into that blessed New Jerusalem God we pray that you'd hasten the day that you would come Lord Jesus even so come quickly and help us all to be ready washed in the Precious Blood of the lamb and clothed in that righteousness guide us now by your Holy Spirit we pray and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well this morning as we considered those two Builders we noted the similarities between them one man built on the Rock one man built on the sand but one of the similarities they both had is the trials and the difficulties and the afflictions and the hardships that are associated with life in a fallen World well God most high in his grace not only tells us that the house will remain steadfast because it's founded upon the rock but he gives us means and helps to deal with the various tempests the rains the winds the things that assault us and James 1 2-8 is one such passage it is instruction for the believer on dealing with trial instruction for the believer on dealing with Affliction the difficulties associated with life in a fallen world and James does two things in our section here in verses two to eight first he says there is the believer's response to trials in verses two to four and then he underscores the believer's request During trials in verses 5 to 8. so there is this response verses two to four and this request in verses 5 to 8. so let's look first at the believer's response to trials in verses two to four we need to First understand what he's talking about obviously because if you have the old King James it reads this way my brethren counted all joy when you fall into diverse Temptations and then when you drop down to verse 12 you see blessed is the man who endures Temptation and then again in verse 13 let no one say when he is tempted I am tempted by God so if you're looking at that on the one hand you're supposed to be joyful when you fall into these various Temptations and on the other hand you're supposed to resist them and you're simply not to suggest that God has sent that well the same word is doing double duty in our particular passage verse 2 is rendered well in the new King James my brethren counted all joy when you fall into various trials the Lord tries his people the Lord tests his people and he does so with the intention of a good outcome Genesis chapter 22 when Abraham is told to take Isaac up to Mount Moriah and to sacrifice him we see that the Lord was testing him again the intention of a good outcome when we drop down in this section we see the temptation of verses of verse 13 is specifically a solicitation to do evil now again we have words that have a broad range of of meaning and that's what's going on in this particular passage so in verse 2 it is a trial that God sends to test us and to help us and to bring out good as a result of it verse 13 is a solicitation to do evil it is something that does cause us to sin if we give into it this is a tactic of the devil level he goes about roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour but he also uses temptation as one of the means to solicit the people of God to do evil and as well these Temptations in verse 13 are associated with our remaining corruption in verses 14 and 15. notice each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed then when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown brings forth death so we're dealing with two different concepts in verse two and then again in verse 13. so in verse 2 it is the the difficulties the hardships the trials the afflictions that we face in this world that God uses to conform us ever more unto the image of his beloved Son again look at the emphasis in verse two my brethren count it all joy that's the command that's the imperative we're to count it all joy when we fall into various trials John Gill says not the Temptations of Satan or Temptations to sin for these cannot be matter of Joy but grief these are fiery darts and give a great deal of uneasiness and trouble but afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel which are so called here and elsewhere because they are Trials of the faith of God's people and uh and of other Graces of the spirit of God so we see a good end in verse 2 and a bad end excuse me in verse 13 followed by 14 and 15. as well notice the expectation of James concerning trials he doesn't say my brethren I want you to know something that living in a sin cursed World there might be the minuscule potential that you'll have some troubles as you Traverse this globe now it probably won't happen but I want you to know there there is this little possibility that you may undergo some hardships as you walk this Earth as God's people in a hostile land where many around you are at odds and have enmity with your master that's not what he says he assumes the presence of trial he assumes the presence of hardship he assumes the presence of difficulty in the Christian Life he assumes this because he's familiar with the Old Testament he assumes this because he's familiar with the teaching of our Lord Jesus who didn't shrink back from declaring the truth to his disciple calls the text I typically cite at this point is John 16 in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I've overcome the world James as well understood the experience of the early disciples he knew the history recorded in the book of Acts he knew what God's people faced he knew that Peter and John were arrested in Acts chapter 4. he knows that the the the the Peter was put in prison and in Acts chapter 12. he knows that the Apostle Paul was stoned during his first missionary journey such that he was able to preach to a congregation we must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of Heaven James knew this because the Old Testament because the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and because of the experience of God's people in the first century as well in this particular epistle notice that James who or notice who James writes to according to verse 1. James a bun served of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ of the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad they weren't in their home they weren't in their country of origin they were scattered abroad he writes to those in the context of the church who suffered poverty according to 1 9 2 1-7 2 15 to 17. as well the people James wrote to suffered religious persecution according to chapter 2 verses 6 and 7. so again he's not introducing a brand new theme he's not trying to tell them that in this world you may possibly have a bit of difficulty no he starts his letter with this emphasis he wants to encourage the people of God he is going to deal pretty hard with them in terms of justification by faith in terms of their response to the various theological issues he has to deal with but he appeals to them at the very outset in terms of trial and difficulty in hardship notice as well the disposition that He commands verse 2 as I I said the command is count it all joy count it all joy when you fall into various trials why does he say we're to count it all joy because this is counter-intuitive this is not the default position when you fall into various trials what's your immediate thought wow isn't this Grand God is working out his purposes in my life God is further conforming me under the image of his blessed son may God be praised if you do that then this sermon isn't for you if you do that this sermon's at least for one of us if you do that praise be to God but the most most of the time for the people of God it is counter-intuitive for us to fall into a trial to fall into an Affliction to fall into a hardship and to pop out praising God immediately this is why James writes this is why James reminds this is why James exhorts this is why James is doing what James is doing count it all joy when you fall into various trials go back to the gospel of Matthew I suggested this morning that James was obviously familiar with Matthew's gospel in general and The Sermon on the Mount in particular and in Matthew Chapter 5 Jesus endorses the same mindset there's the Beatitudes in verses 2 to 10 those are the the statements concerning blessedness or happiness verses 3 to 10 and notice that eighth beatitude in verse 10 blessed or happy happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake rejoice and be exceedingly glad for it great is your reward in heaven for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you see we need to ponder passages like these so that we're prepared for the eventuality of falling into trials it's not the time when we fall into the trials to say okay now what was it that Jesus said what what was it that James said what what was it that I was I was taught in in church on how to respond to such things we need to have this in our mind we need to have this orientation so that when it does occur we're able to face it we're able to stand fast and Jesus says rejoice and be exceedingly glad turn over the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 Again a person a people group that were persecuted in the first century Church notice in chapter 10 at verse 32 but recall the former days in which after you were illuminated you endured a great struggle with sufferings partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations and partly while you became Companions of those who were so treated for you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven brethren in my current mindset I can't even imagine or envisage or see a situation wherein I would be joyful as my goods were seized and taken out of my house now that is to say I need to be reminded as to what he goes on to say you joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods notice the next word knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven in other words these Goods that we possess in the here and the now they are fleeting they're comfortable they're nice it's good to have them as long as we don't make an idol out of them but they pale in significance as compared with the Eternal weight of Glory that we are heading to going back to James 1 the command is count it all joy when you fall into various trials he's going to underscore why this is the case in verse 3 in more detail but specifically he wants the people of God in the face of difficulty to maintain a joyful disposition John Calvin says he means in short that there is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy this is the perspective of God's people the ability to Rejoice the ability to be thankful even in the midst of deprivation even in the midst of hardship even in the midst of suffering now notice the recognition of God's purpose in our trials in verses three to four he highlights a virtue in verse 3 and then gives us its value in verse 4. notice what he says in verse 3 just like what we see in Hebrews chapter 10 you joyfully accepted the plundering of goods knowing you had a theological understanding you had the the right perspective that there is an eternal weight of Glory that you are heading to well the same thing is true here my brethren counted all joy when you fall into various trials knowing okay you've got this mindset you've got this theology you've got this framework you've got this context in your heart so that when you fall into these difficulties you already know the response you already know what's in and view you already know what's happening knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience so the believer must know what James relates here so you're no longer off the hook you've all been instructed if you fall into trial tomorrow and you lose your mind that's because you didn't pay attention tonight that's because you didn't know what God's perspective or or God's purpose is for your trial or for your issue the believer must be prepared and sustained by such knowledge Thomas Manton says ignorance is the cause of Sorrow so many times when we are beset with difficulties and hardships it's as if we forget everything we've ever learned about God most high look at what James says concerning God most high in verse 17. every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning our God is unchangeable the trials and the difficulties and the afflictions and the hardships that we face do not change God it is not a reflection that God has somehow changed he was good to us on Monday and by Friday everything's a mess what has he done why has he changed why has he taken this new course no he doesn't change there is no wrinkle on the brow of Eternity this is the language of man 10 God does not change there is no wrinkle upon the brow of Eternity the arm of Mercy is not dried up nor do his bowels of Love waste and spend themselves we are not to forget we are to know and to understand such that when we have the difficulties and the challenges we have a resource to draw from notice that the trials undergone produce patience now patience is probably better rendered here as endurance or perseverance Patience by itself suggests passivity you'll see the same word in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 run the race with patience but it's rather or or it's translated in the new King James as run the race with endurance I think that's the same sort of emphasis here knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance it produces endurance it produces the ability to go forward in the midst of hardship one man says the emphasis is not passivity but being bravely patient with suffering until it dissipates in other words there is a good and in view of God's having sent these trials or difficulties upon us because we need to learn endurance we need to learn perseverance you don't get stronger muscles until you lift heavier weights you don't run a marathon until you run a marathon and the way that you get there is to increase the amount you run each and every time you need to be able to test yourself physically in order to increase or improve physically it's a pretty simple emphasis in biology well it's the same in spirituality in order to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more often than not it's the School of Hard Knocks that proves to be one of the best helpers along that path God knows what he's doing in your tests in your trials in your afflictions God knows what he is doing as he conforms you under the image of his beloved Son the trials themselves have a theological purpose knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance it is a Most Blessed thing David's a commentator says tempered metal is more precious than the raw material Thomas Manton God's aim in your afflictions is not destruction but trial as gold is put into the furnace to be refined not consumed you want to get the dross out it's not going to come out by your invitation hey dross jump out of the gold no you need to put it in the fire you need to heat it up you need to bring it to that place where you can pull the dross out and God does that with reference to the dross in his people we need the trials we need the difficulties we need the hardships because oftentimes that's when God is at work in us to bring about Conformity unto the Lord Jesus Christ so The Virtue endurance or perseverance but then notice the value in verse 4 he says but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing so the presence of endurance ultimately leads to or the presence of perseverance ultimately leads to perfect now James is not suggesting Perfection is up he's not teaching that a Christian can be perfect on this side of Heaven he's not teaching that you will be sinless before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ that blessed State awaits Us in the eschaton but what he is saying is that there will be a maturity the word is used this way First Corinthians 14 20 it's used this way in Ephesians 4 13. there is a maturing process that the people of God must undergo again how do the people of God undergo that it's through trial it's through testing it's through hardship it's through Affliction it is through being pressed it is through being beaten down and raised back up again these are the means that God employs to bring about that maturity the word could also mean it's applied to Noah in the Old Testament this way blameless or with Integrity it's used like that also in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 and and verse 13 the Perfection will not ultimately be realized to the until the day of judgment notice in verse 12. blessed is the man who endures Temptation for when he has been approved he will receive the Crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love him so the Perfection that we're on our way to the maturity that we're on our way to or the the blamelessness that we're on our way to we're taking steps in the right direction there is a further Conformity unto the Lord Jesus Christ but it's not fully achieved on this side of heaven and James knows that James is encouraging us to understand the purpose of God theologically in the trials that God sends our way now notice secondly the believer's request During trials two things here there's the pursuit of wisdom and the necessity of faith it's not interesting look at verse 5. if any of you latch wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him is that usually what we ask for when we come into affliction we get dashed down we're in a tried situation we are besought with all kinds of hardship is our first cry to God Lord grant me wisdom again you might already have this master this might already be sort of your way but there's a lot of us that need this reminder he says if any of you lacks wisdom note the Assumption verse 4 looks at a time of perfection and completion verse 4 says let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing again that's the goal that's the value that's the process that's the purpose but notice in verse 5 he assumes that it hasn't happened yet he assumes that you're not perfect you're not mature all the way you are not blameless with reference to these particular issues there is room for Aid and assistance and the aid and assistance that you need is specifically wisdom so if any of you lacks wisdom Mountain says it wisdom is to be restrained to the circumstance stances of the text this isn't a new thought so verses two to four deal with your response to trials and then five to eight is completely disconnected oh and by the way if you happen to lack wisdom then ask of God and he'll give it to you because he loves you and he's good no it's very inextricably connected the trials that we undergo the process that God is working out requires on our part wisdom so that we can respond appropriately and accordingly and so James underscores that fact so again Mansion says wisdom is to be restrained to the circumstances of the text not taken generally he intends wisdom or skill to Bear afflictions think about that he intends wisdom or skill to Bear afflictions John Gill says the same thing it intends wisdom to behave a right under Temptations and afflictions again Brethren is that intuitive afflictions hit Trials Come difficulties besat you and you cry to God for wisdom for the skill to be able to navigate through them in a manner that is consistent with what James enjoins Upon Us typically when afflictions hit me I cry out for deliverance when afflictions hit me I cry out for Mercy when afflictions hit me I cry out for just about everything other than wisdom see that is what James demands because God is working out his purposes and we need the wisdom to be able to appreciate that and navigate under this this difficulty now notice he says if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God isn't that beautiful I lack wisdom what should I do go to Sunday school attend church read books get Proverbs and you know internalize that have you ever understood or rather recognize that Proverbs has 31 chapters pretty handy to read a chapter of proverbs a day for every month for the rest of your lives it's a wonderful thing to learn the wisdom of Solomon but in this instance he says let him ask of God I lack wisdom to navigate through this particular trial what shall I ever do cry out to God for the wisdom that is necessary this means that God is the source and Giver of wisdom job 9 4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength job 12 13 with him are wisdom and strength he has counsel and understanding Psalm 147 5 great is our Lord and mighty in power his understanding is infinite Isaiah 40 28 his understanding is unsearchable Romans 16 27 to God Alone wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever amen Colossians 2 3 speaks of Jesus in whom are HID in all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge so if you lack wisdom to face the current trial then ask God this is what is intended here and again that's the means employed for the acquisition of wisdom it's prayer remember Jesus teaches this ask and seek and knock if you being evil men love to give good gifts to your children how much more will our heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask James will later say you you have not because you you ask not so many times Christians want for things but they don't go to the source of those things they don't call upon God for the wisdom necessary to be able to deal with the current situation or the current trial turn back to First Kings chapter 3 First Kings chapter 3 to see an embodiment of this principle in the life of King Solomon Solomon ascends the throne First Kings chapter 2 Solomon destroys any competition relative to the throne First Kings chapter 2. which was the particular way or means of securing one's Throne you eliminate all competitors that's how it's traditionally been done in the history of the world but then God comes to him by way of vision and asks him what shall I give to you first Kings chapter 3 at verse 5 and Solomon said in verse six you have shown great Mercy to your servant David my father because he walked before you in truth and righteousness and in uprightness of heart with you you have continued this great kindness for him excuse me and you have given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day now O Lord my God you have made your servant King instead of My Father David but I am a little child I do not know how to go out or come in and your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen a great people too numerous to be numbered or counted therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people that I may discern between good and evil for who is able to judge this great people of yours what a wonderful example I want more horses I want more wives I want more wealth I want more border territory I want you know victory over my enemies I want to crush them under my boot I want to destroy all all the the Heathen out there I know I want wisdom so that I know how to govern and manage and lead the people that you have put under my charge now notice in verse 10 the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing back to James chapter one it is an assumption that you're going to fall into trials it is an assumption that you know the purpose for these trials and it is an assumption that one day you're going to be mature and blameless and all these trials will have done their their good effect upon you under the blessing of God but in the midst of it you're going to need something and you're going to have to ask God who gives this Manson again says God will have everything fetched out by prayer he giveth nothing without asking we usually wear with thanks what we win by prayer and those Comforts are best improved which we receive Upon Our Knees so he not only gives the exhortation if any of you lacks wisdom let them ask of God he then gives an encouragement to them now think about this he could just say look you got problems with wisdom excuse me a lack of it ask God let's move on to the next subject but he doesn't do that he gives an encouragement to the people of God so that they will ask of God for that wisdom that they need notice that God gives to all who ask excuse me once again if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all who gives to all in Proverbs 2 6 and 7 it says the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding he stores up sound wisdom for the upright he is a shield to those who walk uprightly why should I ask God for wisdom because he gives it but notice he doesn't just give it but he gives it liberally not just a little bit of wisdom not just a miser he's not just sort of Doling it out in some sort of a system where you know you've had five units of wisdom you know this past month and and that's it that that that's your quota you can't have any more he gives to all liberally there is infinite resources in this God we've seen this in Ephesians 1 7. Ephesians 2 7 according to the riches of his grace well there's Riches of his wisdom as well we cannot tap it dry we cannot exhaust it we cannot spend it we cannot use it up God gives to all liberally not just a little bit Calvin says hence no man ought to deprive himself of so great a privilege but notice not only does he give it he gives it liberally and then he says and without reproach or he uh braideth not why do you think he says that so that if you have to go back again you're not going to meet with any resistance from God now just for a moment suppose you're a parent and your child asks you for something and you give it to that child and then about 10 minutes later the child comes back and asks for the same thing again you say okay give it back to him again and so 10 more minutes go and he comes back and 10 more minutes and he comes back and 10 more minutes and he comes back if you're like me at some point you're used up why do you keep coming back why do you not hold on to what I gave you why do you not improve upon what I gave you why do you keep worrying me with this constant coming back this is James's emphasis God doesn't do that God doesn't reproach you God doesn't upgrade you God doesn't say kamani he's back again remember the lesson of the importunate Widow when Jesus teaches his people that all at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart that woman who came or that Widow who came to the judge and and said you know render my verdict and the judge didn't hear so she kept on him and the judge who didn't fear God nor did he regard man finally said you know I don't fear God I don't regard man but I'm going to give her what she wants because she's constantly worrying me what does Jesus draw out from that shall not God avenge his own elect who cry to him day and night God's not the unjust judge God is the most high God is the unchangeable god is the infinitely gracious and merciful and kind and good God he gives to all liberally and without reproach you're not going to weary God at the throne of grace by coming to fetch wisdom you're not going to hear from God say oh no you've used it all up go out and manage it yourself this is in encouragement for the people of God to seek God's mercy again Calvin says this is added lest anyone should fear to come too often to God well you know I've asked and he gave but I don't want to weary him I don't want to use up my my privilege Brethren you cannot use up God is infinite in his grace now the reasons for this wisdom are manifold we need to see the hand of God in our Flagship I think this is difficult at times Brethren are you able with pinpoint accuracy to understand what is of god what is of the devil and what is of your own remaining flesh or remain corruption I'm not there's some difficulties in in that I don't know if the devil is enticing me to do evil I don't know if God is doing this trial in order to conform me ever more to the image of my my blessed savior I don't know if this is remaining corruption in my own heart there needs to be wisdom in order to see the hand of God in the Affliction that we are undergoing David had this in second Samuel chapter 16. when shimmy eye curses David his servant says why are we letting this dog live let me go cut his head off and David says no this is from the Lord that's wisdom Brethren wisdom to see the hand of God in the afflictions that we undergo as well we need wisdom to appreciate the sovereignty of God in our afflictions Romans 8 28 we know that God causes all things to work for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to his purpose again we don't need help understanding that the good things are from God we don't need help understanding the bags of money and happy wives and happy children and a good work situation or blessings from God we need wisdom to appreciate that the opposite is from God too they're under his Divine management they're under his providential control as well we need wisdom to understand the good and of God in all of our afflictions now again brethren we don't always see this when the when we're in the midst of it I'm not I'm not sure how this is going to work out for my good but I trust in The Sovereign power of God that it is going to work out for my good but as well we need wisdom to help regulate our response to our afflictions what happens if we don't have wisdom what happens if we respond in such a way that is completely contrary to the way that we're supposed to we get angry with God we get bitter with God we get upset with God we wonder why is it God that that you have sent these things my way why is it God that you are doing these sorts of things well we need wisdom to guard our passions we need wisdom to guard our hearts we need wisdom to guard our minds so that we don't call God into question concerning our current situation again Mansion to moderate the violences of our own passions he that liveth by sense will and and passion is not wise listen again to that he that lives by sense will and passion is not wise skill is required of us to apply apt counsels and Comforts that our hearts may be above the misery that our flesh is under that is Sage wonderful advice and counsel from a Puritan who wrote at length on the Book of James and then notice the necessity of faith in verses six to eight so we're to ask God who gives to all liberally and without reproach under understanding it will be given to him then there's this caution and encouragement to ask in faith notice the focus in verse 5 is theological in nature the focus in verses six and eight six to eight is upon man so verse 5 is theology if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God God gives to all liberating gives without reproach now verses six to eight your heart needs to be right your heart needs to have the proper framework your heart needs to be regulated by the word of God so he says specifically that you need to ask in faith the fir again further knowledge of Matthew Matthew's gospel you might think this is odd that I keep emphasizing this but there is that class of people out there say the Bible's kind of random it's just kind of there oh no the man of God knew what the other men of God had written and more often than not they assume that and they write their theology with reference to those things as well but how many times does Jesus sort of sort of indict his disciples for little faith little faith not no faith not reprobate not absence of Faith but you of little faith so there is that category of little faithness out there and so James does not want that to be the case for those who seek out wisdom but let him ask in faith with no doubting again John Gill says not only in the faith of the Divine being that God is but in the faith of the promises he has made and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them and in the faith of this that whatever is asked according to the will of God and is for His glory had his people's good and his people's good shall be given and then notice this caution verse 6 let him ask in faith with no doubting for He Who doubts is like a wave driven by a wave of the sea driven by uh driven and tossed by the wind for let not that man suppose that it will receive anything from the Lord he is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways so a man who asks in no faith or a man who asks with the absence of faith is described here as being unsettled unanswered and unstable now none of us want that right hey what do you want in your Christian Life well I want to be unsettled I want to be unanswered and I want to be unstable no that's typically not what we respond we typically want the the opposite we want to be settled answered and stable right all of us want to be settled and sold answered and stable so what do you think is the key or the help or the means by which we can be settled answered and stable to ask in faith to believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him let him ask in faith with no doubting for He Who doubts is like a wave of the sea this metaphor of a stormy sea was a very common one we see it in Ephesians 4 14 and it demonstrates the unsettledness of the man who doubts this is not a good place to be as well he will be unanswered we just assume that we're always going to be answered but notice what James says with no doubting for He Who doubts is like the way a wave of the seed driven and tossed by the wind for let not that man supposed that he will receive anything from the Lord so he will be unanswered we need to ask God for wisdom in faith that he is who he says he is and that he gives what he says that he gives and then notice he will be unstable a double-minded man unstable in all his ways the word literally is double sold or double-minded you see it again in James 4 at verse 8. he says draw near to God and He will draw near to you cleanse your hands you Sinners and purify your hearts you double minded again this is not a good place to be the word reflects a departure from what God calls his people to you see it used or the concept app used in the book of Deuteronomy and in Proverbs as well the word was used of Unfaithful Israel being unstable people the word is further described in verse 8. he's unstable in all his ways it's not just with reference to a lack of wisdom but this is indicative or characteristic of the man's entire life so when we come to God we must believe that he is and we must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him a lot Hebrews 11 6. this is the similar emphasis of James at this particular point now in conclusion three thoughts and then we go first the believer's preparation for trials Now by preparation for trials I don't mean you seat belt yourself to your couch and never move because if we do that then we're not going to hit trials right I mean I guess the ceiling could collapse on us you know that that sort of thing my preparation for trial I mean study passages like these reflect upon the words of Jesus reflect upon the history of Israel reflect upon the New Testament Church reflect upon the 20 centuries of Christ's Church and realize that trials and difficulties in hardship are not unique in terms of the experience of God's people they're commonplace this is a means by which God further conforms us unto the image of our blessed savior study passages like these again Manton says Christ's isaf must clear your sight or else you cannot make a right judgment there is no proper and fit apprehension of things till you get within the veil and see by the Light of the sanctuary lamp a man that hath no other light but reason in nature cannot judge of those things God's riddles are only open to those that plow with God's heifer and it is by God's spirit that we come to discern and esteem the things that are of God wonderful use of the Samson narrative there remember Samson upgrades those who you know found out as riddle you only knew this because you plowed with my heifer you only knew this because you prevailed upon her if she hadn't said anything yet and never understood I love his use of that framework of that phrase God's riddles are only open to those that plow with God's have fur we need to study passages like these we need to try and recognize God's purpose for the trials that we face in our lives I mentioned this in Surrey as I was preaching and I had said you know people often will come or talk or you know amongst not just pastors but everybody yeah I really don't know what God's trying to teach me in all of this I don't either I don't I'm not omniscient I'm not infallible I don't have sort of a you know x-ray vision into you know all that God's doing but in terms of the specificity but in general we all know what he's doing don't we we all know exactly what he's doing those he foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son well the way that he conforms us to the image of his son more often than not is through the School of Hard Knocks more often than not it is through trial and difficulty in hardship you may never Divine the specific purpose for a particular trial in your life but be content with the general understanding that in this he is working out things for his glory and for my well-being and I think that when you understand passages like these it helps to fortify that understanding secondly the believer's disposition During trials what James says here I just want to sort of encapsulate it we must remember God's purposes and not rage against God people do that Brethren people get upset people get out you know outraged at God I can't believe what God is doing I I can't believe that the Lord would do such a thing to to me what is that a suggestion of what is that really I mean really you you can't believe that there might ever be some you know purposes of God for your life that that might involve just a wee bit of suffering really you can't entertain that thought have you reflected upon the Man of Sorrows who was acquainted with grief have you reflected upon the son who learned obedience through suffering have you reflected upon the Apostle Paul I mean if Paul was afflicted if Paul was tried we are lesser than Paul therefore we are open game and in terms of God's purposes in our lives we need to guard our hearts against raging against him we must recognize his purposes so that we don't panic that's another response people either rage against God or they they Panic they become untethered they they start to lose everything I don't know what's happening I can't handle that yeah you can God is merciful god is gracious God is good we must count it all joy when various Trials Come remember that's the command count it all joy when you fall into various trials not just fall into various trials that's not the command it's not commanding you to go fall into various trials he is commanding you to be joyful when you fall into various trials again Manta quoting Manton a lot because he's great on this passage a Christian is a bird that can sing in Winter as well as in Spring he can live in the fire like Moses Bush burn and not be consumed nay he can leap in the fire amen that is a great emphasis as well we must endure during the trial so that God's purpose is realized in our lives and you don't have any other choice what are you going to do cash it in no whatever our God ordains is right and we persevere by his grace and for his glory we must as well consider to the conduct of other Saints who went through trials this is why we read Christian biography this is why we read missionary stories this is why we read Hebrews chapter 11. this is why we read the life of David this is why we read the gospel narratives this is why we fill our minds and hearts with the path of righteousness that others before us have taken and we're supposed to learn from their example and go thou and do likewise and we must seek wisdom so that we can navigate successfully through the trials so let me encourage you if this happens this week or this month or this year you find yourself tried you find yourself vexed go to James 1 count it all joy knowing that God is working in the midst of it for your maturity and blamelessness and that if you lack wisdom which hint hint you probably do ask of God because he gives to all liberally and he does so without reproach do so in faith don't be a doubter don't be a double-minded or an unstable man but rather be one who has been bought with a price and used the Privileges of child of adopted sonship to go to the father and to seek wisdom to deal with it and then contemplate the Believers your savior rather who endured trials Isaiah 53 3 he is despised and rejected by Men A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we did not esteem him Hebrews 5 8 though he was a son yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered Hebrews 12 2 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him listen to this endured the cross despising the Sham and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God and if you're an unbeliever here this evening the way to heaven is not to master dealing with afflictions the way to Heaven is to look at the one who mastered all these things in his life death and Resurrection believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved this one was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief not because of his sin not because of his criminal activity not because his Rebellion against God or the magistrate he came for us he lived a life of perfect obedience everything that God the Father ever commanded Jesus Christ did he never never said he never compromised he never lusted he never engaged in ungodly Behavior he never breached or transgressed that decalah why is that was it just simply for an example well it was exemplary to be sure but it was rather so that his righteousness could be given to us he goes to the cross and he dies for us he sheds the blood or his own blood for us to cleanse us from all of our sin he's raised again the third days enthroned at the right hand of the Father the gospel call Goes Forth not manage your afflictions but look unto the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and when you do fall into afflictions as one who has by Grace believe then put into practice what James is talking about in James 1 2-8 the way of Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone our brother read that beautiful passage of scripture in the scripture reading this evening numbers 21 those fiery serpents sent by God to bite those wretched Israelites what was the remedy raise up that Brazen serpent you look to that Brazen serpent you live notice they were not told to sought the venom out of their bites they were not told to drag themselves over to the base of the Brazen Serpent and kiss it they were told to look and to live that's what Jesus uses by way of analogy in John's gospel at chapter 3 just as Moses lifted up the serpent so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life look and live well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you that it speaks to us at the level that we have need of we know God that there are those difficulties associated with life in a fallen world we know that there are difficulties Associated specifically with Christians in a fallen world so grant us Grace to meditate upon and consider passages like these and help us to be able at the time to to deal with these things in a way that brings Glory and Honor unto you and for all of us God increase the wisdom that we need not simply for the trials in life but for all things help us to to know the the will of God to understand the truth of God as revealed in Holy Scripture and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our blessed savior we pray now that you would go with us and watch over us in this coming week bless and strengthen us and cause your face to shine upon us and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation