Title: Rejoice in Tests
Contents
1. Words that begin
James 1:13 says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one'." Church members who know these words think that if they are tempted and suffer financial difficulties, sickness, or troubles in life, they neglect prayer and the Word and are tempted by the devil. There are cases like that.
But James 1:13 does not mean that God does not tempt the devil as temptation to sin that destroys man, and does not mean that he does not do any temptation. In Genesis 22:1 and below, God called Abraham to test him and told him to sacrifice Isaac; In Deuteronomy 8:2, it is said that God's forty years of walking in the wilderness humbled Israel and was a test to see if they kept God's commandments or not.
2. A test to rejoice in
For those who believe and for those who do not believe, the temptation of God, the temptation of the devil, or the combined tests are all difficult and difficult every day. However, the apostle James exhorted believers to “consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.
The Greek word for “test”, peirasmois (πειρασμο??), means trial or training for God to improve or bless, and it means temptation that the devil intends to destroy, especially the saints. In addition to this meaning, it also has the meaning of 'suffering' or 'tribulation'.
The devil satisfies worldly desires, such as wealth, fame, and valor, through tribulation and persecution, through cowardice, in order to knock down priests and saints, and tests them with wonders and miracles, rational logic or ideology, and disease. Unless God stops it, there will be no means and methods the devil cannot use to destroy man or to overthrow priests and saints. The ultimate purpose of that temptation is to stop you from believing in your Savior, Jesus Christ.
The peculiar thing is that sometimes, like Job's severe temptation and Jesus' wilderness temptation, God allows the devil to tempt humans. In that way, God tests your faith, grants you great blessings, makes you do great things, or makes you do great love. In any test, those who overcome or pass will have advancement, reward, and glory, and those who lose will have sin, frustration, and destruction.
Church members believe that if we have good faith, all things will prosper, and if our faith is ill, we will face difficult trials. Therefore, the trial of a believer is considered evidence of weakness or unbelief. However, in reality this is not necessarily the case. In a crooked and rebellious generation, in a society rife with disbelief and sin, the fact that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is bound to put us to the test in many cases. In John 17:14, it says, “I gave your word to them, and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
The Greek word bankrupt karan hekesaste (π?σαν χαρ?ν ?γ?σασθε) for “consider it with all joy” means ‘consider it with the highest joy’. It does not mean the joy of worldly joy or cheap victory, but the joy that is based on the realization of one's relationship with God. The purpose of the apostle James is to exhort us to regard as the greatest joy the various persecutions and tribulations we face because we believe in the Lord Jesus. The deep meaning of the words to rejoice in temptation cannot be comprehended by human reason, whose spiritual understanding is paralyzed. Here we discover a unique belief about life's hardships.
There are those who rejoice in trials and tribulations regardless of their faith.
British businessman Robert Carlton gave away more than 40 jewels, including diamonds, during his 26-year marriage to his wife, Elizabeth Carlton. Converting this into money, it is $492,400 (about 610 million won). The jewelery Elizabeth Carlton received became known after her daughter Durham put it up for auction after her parents died. But the amazing thing is that most of the expensive gifts are like, 'Honey, I'm sorry I cheated on you every time my husband, Robert Carlton, had an affair. The truth is that he gave it to him to ask for forgiveness, saying, ‘Receive a diamond and set your mind at ease.
Netizens said, "It's like having an affair at least once a year. Would it be forgiven for having received a diamond?” he said absurdly. It is said that the Buddha also turns around when he sees the Seed, and I wonder if his wife would have been happy or sad because of the diamonds that were produced every time the painful trial was over. They will ask you if you accept it disrespectfully, but if you get it, you cheat, and if you don't, it's better to get it and be upset.
People of our faith should be able to rejoice in the trials of faith that they face because they believe in the Lord Jesus.
First, we must think about the results of taking the test and be happy. The test, or trial of faith, was God's way to use the believer as a great vessel. God always trains us to make our faith strong and pure, to give us greater blessings, and to make us more vessels of love. When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only loved one, Isaac, Abraham was plunged into anguish that was worse than the loss of his life. This unbearable ordeal was a test by God who weighed Abraham's faith in order to give him great blessings. Genesis 22:1 and below. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tried by fire, might be found to be praise, glory, and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
Second, we must rejoice in knowing that the test of faith is a glory and a blessing. Psalm 119:71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” Acts 5:41 says, “And the apostles left the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy of reproach for the sake of his name.” In 2 Corinthians 11:23 and below, the apostle Paul proudly lists the many trials and tribulations he faced for the Lord Jesus.
The world not only considers suffering for the object of their respect or love a proud joy, but also suffers for that object. But, how much did we rejoice in trials and trials for the Lord and His work, who received the grace of redemption by believing in the Lord? How many times have you experienced suffering for the sake of the gospel? The secret to rejoicing in trials or trials of faith is to follow the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord and the Spirit of God, not the emotions of joy and sorrow.
Third, we must rejoice knowing that trials, or trials of faith, produce patience. Regardless of whether ordinary people or rulers encounter trials or tribulations, they complain, resent and blame others, and eventually collapse from exhaustion and even take their own lives. But the trial of believers is to produce patience. The Apostle James said, “Persevere in perfection, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
The Greek word for “endurance” is hupomonen (?πομον?ν), which means “to endure,” “to endure,” “to be immovable,” to “to wait with patience.” In particular, as W. Barclay puts it in a more positive sense, “This word is not simply the ability to persevere. It is the power to turn many things into great things, full of glory.”
3. Conclusion
When you are faced with various trials, hardships and problems, to stop crying because you can't endure it means that you have not endured in the end. As people who believe in Almighty God, we must not only endure various trials and tribulations, but also overcome them with joy through the power of the Holy Spirit. By relying on the Lord Jesus and persevering to the end, I hope that you will fully take on the work that God has entrusted to you both inside and outside the church, and equip yourself with a perfect character of faith.
(Poongseong Methodist Church. Book: Complete Commentary on 27 New Testament Books/ Interpretation of Difficult Scriptures I, II/ Salvation Before Jesus Came/Paul’s Understanding of Man/ Prosperity Prayer/ Seasonal Sermonbooks/ Sermonbook 18. -3051)