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Scripture Reading - James 雅各书 1:2-4

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.

2 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐， 3 因为知道，你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。 4 但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全、完备，毫无缺欠。

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Persevering & Looking Ahead

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James 雅各书 1:1-8

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

1 做神和主耶稣基督仆人的雅各，请散住十二个支派之人的安！

Trials Are Inevitable. But can they be good?

The Holy Spirit lead James to write this book of Scripture who was the earthly half brother of the JESUS. James did not come to faith in the Lord until a bit later in life. He became a church leader in the church in Jerusalem.

At the time this was written, Christians, and in this context, Jewish Christians were under heavy persecution from the Jews and under Herod Agrippa I.

The theme is living out a genuine faith, even under pressure and trials.

Due to the persecution, Christian Jews had scattered around the Roman Empire and they were suffering due to the hatred of the lost people around them. But, GOD was working and many people were coming to faith in Christ, and still are today all over the world.

John 15:18-19

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

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James 雅各书 1:1-8

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.

2 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐， 3 因为知道，你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。 4 但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全、完备，毫无缺欠。

2. Trials Grows Us. Learning to persevere…

How did we do with persevering in faith this year?

Consider it Pure Joy: Greek Parsing 5479 xará (another feminine noun from the root xar-, "extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed") – properly, the awareness (of God's) grace, favor; joy ("grace recognized").

[The etymological link between 5463 /xaírō ("rejoice because of grace"), 5479 /xará ("joy because of grace")

So because of GOD’s amazing grace, as we walk through difficulty you can recognize God’s grace in the midst of a trial, and in doing so rejoice and find Joy from what you are walking through.

The Trials produce a perseverance in your faith.

We try our best to avoid obstacles trials or problems in our lives.

At work, we might try to be proactive to figure out ways to help things run smoothly.

At church, we try to make sure we can teach and encourage and warn about the dangers of making unwise choices.

In parenting, we try to warn our children and teach them to obey the Lord and honor HIM.

In health we try to find ways to stay healthy…

In the world events of our day, we see evil land brokenness happening all over the globe. Look at the US and its lost and confused culture. Look at Israel and Ukraine and it oppressors.

Reality in this side of heaven… is that nothing will go smoothly. The basic fact is that we have those safe-guards because we know that we have the potential to do something wrong, or for something not to work out.

Some things happening to us are unavoidable, while others are the result of our mistake/wrong-doing.

For the ones that are unavoidable, happening to us with out our control, GOD will use them to teach us by testing our faith, when something is tested, it has the ability to be stronger, especially as the person learns from the mistake and makes the changes and corrections to fix the problem.

Sometimes trials can bring discouragement, and we are told that if we are faithfully serving the LORD, (Galatians 6:9 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.)

We know that our hope cannot be in this life or this world. It is going into deeper destruction every day.

These trials are in the Greek are also talking about a testing/proofing of our faith. Just like when things are tested the heat and pressure actually

Water Pot: Sarah Christmas gift… when water heats up to pver 100 degrees F it begins to kill any impurities in the water rendering it drinkable. It kills most of the pathogenic organisms, particularly viruses and bacteria causing waterborne diseases.

Same thing with the trials we face.

It produces a perseverance in us. The ability to learn to keep on going.

hupomonē

1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance

1a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

1b) patiently, and steadfastly

2) a patient, steadfast waiting for

3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance

Vs 4: Perseverance produces mature, complete, not lacking anything. It shows us who and what really matters. Teaches us how to continue on be faithful.

Faithfulness (Perseverance) vs Growth: Many people today look for growth in their life and strive for growth…. “ how can I grow?” like there is a simple method and recipe to produce growth…

GOD didn’t tell you to just grow and worry about growing in your faith…. He tells us all over scripture to be “faithful”. A Christian cannot be faithful without perseverance, and growth happens only because you are being faithful to the LORD.

Conferences are great, they teach you much. But don’t get learning something mixed up with growth. Growth happens when there is action in place. In other words…. perseverance.

Christians can go off to places and learn, and those are good opportunities. The real testing come when you ha ve to get back to life and learn to be faithful/persevere. That is where the growth happens.

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James 雅各书 1:1-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

5 你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐于众人也不斥责人的神，主就必赐给他。 6 只要凭着信心求，一点不疑惑；因为那疑惑的人就像海中的波浪，被风吹动翻腾。 7 这样的人不要想从主那里得什么， 8 心怀二意的人在他一切所行的路上都没有定见。

3. Perseverance Teaches Us Dependance on GOD.

God’s intentions in trials is to teach us to depend on HIM and no one and nothing else.

Ask GOD. Ask HIM for help. Ask HIM what to do.

He gives us what we need through HIS Word and through moving us and speaking to us.

But in asking trust that HE will answer.

Example: OH Lord if you could, maybe, pretty please, pretty pretty please help me…. Maybe? That’s weak and all over the board. Its not a proper understanding of GOD, if your trust in HIM is all over the map of emotions.

No, ask HIM trusting He will help.

Proverbs 3:5-8

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

How did you do this year with persevering through trials?

Review Points: 1. Trials Are Inevitable. They are good. | 2. Learning to Persevere Grows Us. | 3. Perseverance Teaches Us Dependance on GOD.

As we look at our lives, this world, our future… Its not easy, and at times will be tough. With GOD we can get through and overcome any trial that comes our way.

Our hope is in Christ, the only ONE we should build our lives upon.

Closing Prayer

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1 Peter 2:9-12

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

9 唯有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。 10 你们从前算不得子民，现在却做了神的子民；从前未曾蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。

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1 Peter 2:9-12

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

11 亲爱的弟兄啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的。 12 你们在外邦人中应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察的日子归荣耀给神。

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The LORD’s Strength in the New Year