What Works When Life Doesn't

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A introduction. James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is remarkable in the sense that James is the brother of the Lord Jesus, the half-brother of Jesus. I could take time to show you that in the Scriptures, but it is a fact that the one who writes these words is James, the little brother of Jesus.

The son of Mary and of Joseph. Now can you imagine growing up as the little brother of Jesus? Why can't you be like your older brother, James? Why don't you clean up your room like Jesus, James?

He heard that his whole life. He knew obviously that there was something incredibly different about Jesus. But growing up in that home did not make him a follower of Jesus. And as a matter of fact, James was at one time an unbeliever. He did not believe his brother was the Messiah. There is an instance in the Scripture when James along with other members of the family come to Jesus and try to take him home back to Nazareth. They said he's out of his mind. He's not thinking straight.

Let us take him home. So James, those certainly well aware that Jesus was well perfect, didn't believe he was the Messiah until the resurrection. And the resurrection changed everything. In fact, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Jesus appeared to James, his half-brother. He became James, the son of God, a child of God. He ultimately went on to lead the church in Jerusalem. He was the de facto main man in the church in the early years. Not Peter, but James. And the writing, the epistle, the letter that we have in front of us is most likely the first New Testament book written. It is certainly among the first and the oldest of all the writings of the Old Testament inspired by the Holy Spirit. James knew Jesus as his brother, but he ultimately confessed Jesus as his Lord. And therefore, it's interesting that when he introduces himself, he doesn't say, no. He said, James, a bondservant, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Such humility. James, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes in the dispersion. The dispersion meaning the Jewish dispersion. Jews were on the run, especially Christian believers. Followers of Jesus were on the run. And so the original recipients of these words from James were Christians who were suffering. Jewish believers who were facing pain and persecution.

They were refugees. But beyond persecuted saints, to all of us who are really not of this world. This world is not my home. We are scattered. We are dispersed throughout the earth because ultimately our hope, our home is in heaven. So we are strangers in this land. Pilgrims, Peter calls us. And as a result, we also, this side of our heavenly home experience suffering and pain and problems and difficulties. James gets right at it. He gets right in our faces because what he wants us to know is that the Christian life is not just about words but works.

Not just about our conversation but our conduct. Not our creeds but our deeds. Certainly no one is saved by works.

Works do not save. But we're going to discover in the book of James that the faith that saves works. And many of the subjects and topics that we deal with in our lives today, everything from discrimination to the use of the tongue to how we act at church to how we live in the world to how we process information, how we pray, words about healing when we're sick. All of these very practical, applicable subjects are found in the book of James. The book of James is closely akin in many ways to the Sermon on the Mount. James no doubt learned well the words of Jesus as they were taught at the Mount and perhaps even said in James on home growing up. With Jesus. And so you would think that one of the toughest subjects that we could face, the subject of suffering and trials and evil and why we go through, you would think that he would sort of lead up to that, right?

That deal with lesser, lighter subjects but no, right out of the chute James is saying, trials. And verse 2 says, count it all joy my brothers when you meet or fall into trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. The goal of the book of James and beyond that the goal of the Christian life is Christian maturity. The development of our Christian character Christ's likeness. The goal always for us is godliness.

That we would be perfect and complete in our lives before Christ and before the world. James comes at us in his letter with a lot of imperatives. Not declaratives but imperatives.

In other words, commands. For example, there are four of them in the passage that we're looking at today. Count in verse 2, see it? Then in verse 3, know our knowing, know this. Verse 4, the word let, let patience have its perfect work. And then in verse 6, ask.

If you need wisdom you should ask of God. There are four imperatives that prompt us how we should learn and grow and develop in our Christian life and faith. Here's the message, the sermon in a sentence. You can face trials with a sense of joyful confidence and faith when you understand God's purpose in the trial.

I'll say it again. Here's the message today. You can face trials with a sense of joyful confidence and faith when you understand God's purpose in the trial. Let's talk for a moment about the reality of trials. Verse 2 says, count it all joy my brothers when you meet various kinds of trials.

Not if, but when. Not maybe so, but count on it that trials in the Christian's life are non-electives but required in the curriculum of Christ. Every trial that we face is to prove us and test us. So when we face trials it's not time for us as believers to curl up in the fetal position, but to learn everything we need to learn in the midst of that trial so that we can grow through it. Not just go through it, but grow through it. As trials are painful and as painful as they are in our circumstances they strengthen our faith and build our character and move us forward in Christ's likeness.

It is an advantage in adversity. Trials are storms, they are disciplines, they are disappointments. Trials can be pain and suffering, heartache.

They are designed to produce a deeper work in us. And notice they happen. And life gets hard and life doesn't work the way we thought it was going to work. We're walking into various trials. The idea that James is giving us is here, we're walking along the blue skies, we're singing, zippity-doo-dah, zippity-ay, my oh my, what a wonderful day.

And then BAM! Out of nowhere, out of the blue, we find ourselves in the middle of a trial, a test, and a storm. And we're in the middle of it. Some of you, I know what you're thinking.

I know I'm preaching to people right now. You're in the middle of a trial. It's been said that for every Christian you're either in a trial or you're coming out of a trial or you're going into a trial.

Welcome to life. In Romans 8 we're told that all creation groans. Mother Earth is groaning in childbirth in preparation for the new birth of planet Earth that is coming when Christ comes again. On this side of eternity, we live in suffering and pain and heartache and we are often in the middle of those trials. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, What Works When Life Doesn't. Bring fresh passion and joy to your faith with Dr. Graham's newest book, Reignite, an intimate account of how God led Dr. Graham through one of the darkest seasons of his life.

Whether you're facing disappointment, doubt, depression or heartache, Reignite offers biblical insights to encourage you in your pain and help fan the flames of faith in your life. And it's our way to thank you for your gift to PowerPoint. So call today to get your copy of Reignite as thanks for your support. Call 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit JackGraham.org where you can shop our e-store, give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional. Our website again is JackGraham.org. What works when life doesn't? Secondly, notice the response of the believer to these trials. For verse 2 says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials.

What? James, come on! I promise you when I walk into hospital rooms or homes where people are grieving, I don't walk in with a big old smile on my face saying, Count it all joy everybody!

So why would James offer this very difficult, really impossible command? Count it all joy. Well you've got to remember, number one, that joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is a byproduct of joy, but happiness depends upon our circumstances. Jesus said, My joy I give to you. In the midst of the trial facing the cross, He said, I give you My joy. It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured the cross, despising the pain, that joy that was before Him. And Jesus said, That joy is your joy. It's not a superficial happiness, it is a supernatural joy that Jesus gives.

And therefore, when we face these trials, our response should be joy. Joy is the spiritual pleasure that comes from His presence. Here's what the psalmist said in Psalm 16 11, In your presence, Lord, is fullness of joy.

In your right hand are pleasures forevermore. It's in the presence of God. When we start counting on the presence of God that we experience His joy, the joy that comes from Jesus. Now, notice he says, Count it all joy, my brothers, and you can certainly add sisters there. Count it all joy, people, who are in Christ. Joy is the unique promise and privilege to believers and followers of Jesus. If you don't have Jesus in your life, then count on the next 15 minutes of pleasure you have because that's all you've got.

There's pleasure and sin for a season, then oops, it's over. But joy lasts a lifetime in spite of pressures and problems. Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy. Nehemiah said the joy of the Lord is my strength. If Satan or if circumstances can steal your joy, then your strength is gone. Have you ever noticed when you're down, when you're miserable, how exhausting that is?

When you're depressed and defeated, how tired you are? The joy of the Lord is your strength. If your goal is to be like Jesus and that should be your goal, then prepare for trials.

They're coming. But what's the reason for these trials? For you know, verse 3 says, the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. The trials separate the men from the boys, the superficial from the supernatural, the artificial from the authentic. The faith that can't be tested is a faith that can't be trusted. The point of pain and trials is to test us, to prove us. And he says here, no, verse 3, that the testing of your faith produces this steadfastness or this endurance. No, as Christians, we don't live by what we feel, we live by what we know. Not our emotions or even explanations, but promises and principles from God's Word.

So you've got to keep up with your work. Come to church, listen to God's Word, get the Word of God in your life. Grow in the Scriptures yourselves as you hear the Word of God speaking to you. Learn how to pray.

Learn to know what you know. I can promise you when, if you're prepared, when the test comes, you'll be ready if you know what God says. What God says is that I'm in control of your life. What God says is I'm working all things together for good. What works when life doesn't?

I'll tell you what works when life doesn't. God works when life doesn't. You think, why doesn't God do something? Why doesn't God come through in my life?

Why am I going through this? God, why aren't you working? He is working. For all things are working together for the good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose. God is at work. And if you know Jesus, you know that God is good and God is gracious and God is present. No matter what you're going through, no matter what you're going through, that there's never been a time in your life that you haven't been loved by a Heavenly Father who daily walks with you and lives in you. So don't trade what you don't know for what you do know if you know Jesus. Psalm 27, 13 says, "'I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.'" This is faith that works.

You say, OK, pastor, I get it. Trials are real. Trials are raw. But what are the reasons for trial? I have, in closing, five reasons for trials.

You may want to write them down, the results of the trial. Number one, stability. That's why he gives the word steadfastness there. For you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, which means to remain under pressure, to get under the weight. It means patient endurance. That's stability, to be steadfast and strong, immovable.

Stability. Then maturity. Verse 4 speaks of this perfect work, this complete work.

He is completing His work in us. God is finishing us off to the full. And when we persevere, we mature. When we endure, we mature. He's working on us from the inside out.

And remember, what's the goal? Perfection, which is Christ's likeness. Now this side of heaven, we know that we'll never be like Jesus, but if it's your goal to be like Jesus, then let God keep working and maturing you and developing you. Unfortunately, too many Christians are not growing. You don't know your Bibles. You're still on the milk of the Word, not the meat of the Word. Your prayer life is ridiculous. You can't even remember the last time you ever shared your faith with somebody. Giving, huh?

Maybe if someone appeals to you, you'll throw a little bit in the plate, but the idea of tithing and giving, you're out. You need to grow. The third thing is clarity. Paul speaks, or James here speaks in verse 5 of wisdom.

He said, ask and you will be given wisdom. When we are in trials, there's something about trials that clears our thinking. Understanding and perspective comes when God gives us wisdom. When you pray, your eyes get opened to what God may be doing in your life.

You don't always know exactly why the trial is there, but you get some perspective in the trial. There's clarity. Then there's vitality. James, a servant of God and our Lord Jesus Christ counted all joy, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Vitality prepares us for greater service. Pain produces spiritual power for ministry. I know this, the people that I respect the most in their Christian walk and witness are those who have been through the deepest trials and struggles and have come through them stronger and better.

I've seen that many times as a pastor. People who go through the most horrendous things, yet their joy remains and their faith is intact and stronger. And therefore their service to the Lord, their test becomes a testimony and their mess a message. Because they've been through some things and God has sustained them and strengthened them.

I know this, God rarely if ever uses anybody in a great way who hasn't been broken. And so God may send a trial in our lives to break us that He might bless us in ways that we can't even imagine yet. God wants to use you in a greater way so it's like the crushing of the grapes. And then the crushing of the crucibles of life. You are prepared for something better and greater in your life than you ever thought possible.

It's not over. God's getting you ready for something better, something greater in your life. And one final thing, these trials produce humility. That's why James said I'm a servant is the remarkable testimony of the humility in which we serve God. And you know when we go through trials we can be living high, wide and handsome, arrogant, full of ourselves.

And then a trial comes. It shows us we're not all of that. Our hearts get broken. Our lives get broken. And we're crushed that it brings us to our knees and on our faces before God.

And in that humbling moment we receive in the trial the experience of knowing God like we've never known Him before as He becomes Lord of life and Lord of all. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, what works when life doesn't. Chances are you've faced your share of crisis. Maybe you're even in the fight of your life right now. Or maybe you're simply feeling exhausted by the busyness of life and sapped of spiritual strength.

Whatever you're facing. We want to help fan the flame of faith in your life by sending you Dr. Graham's newest book reignite this personal account of how God led Dr. Graham through his own crisis will help you focus on God during difficult seasons so you can experience fresh passion and joy in Jesus. And we'll send you a copy as thanks for your gift today. So call now to request your copy of reignite call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop our e-store, give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional. Our website again is Jack Graham.org. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today? We can face trials with joy because we know that God is with us. Jesus lives in us. And we realize that through our trials, he is doing something greater in us, something deeper in us.

And we are becoming more like him. The purpose of every trial is Christian maturity. We're growing up in our faith. We don't just go through our trials, we grow through our trials. Trials separate the superficial in life from the supernatural.

The artificial, the things that don't really matter or last from the authentic, what is real. So that's why I say, and I say it again, the goal is not just to go through trials but to grow through them. Trials are sure to come and tears are real.

But don't let your disappointments turn to discouragement, defeat and certainly not despondency or despair. There's never been a time in your life when you haven't been loved by your Heavenly Father who walks with you, who lives in you and wants to shape you, make you into something beautiful. The psalmist said, When we are in the presence, Lord, is fullness of joy. When we are in the presence of God, even in our darkest days and moments of our lives, we can experience His eternal joy.

And this is how we can endure pain and even enlist our pain with joyous hope to help us grow up into maturity in Christ. And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint today, we'll send you Dr. Graham's brand new book, Reignite, as our thanks. Call 1-800-795-4627. That's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. Text PowerPoint to 313131. Be sure to join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how God can grow you through the struggles you face. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.