An "Impossible" Directive - 8

 If this study of James 1 seems chopped up in this format, please email me at rburwick@mindspring.com for the 12 page complete study. I'll be happy to email you a copy free.  It has been  a life-changing study for me. How in the world to rejoice during adversity.

The Spiritual Dynamics of Trials (1:2-5)

Life’s situations and events are only the surface. James tells his readers to look for the deeper meaning, thus the challenge in verse 5: “ask God for wisdom.” We’re not to focus on escaping the surface hardship. “God, please help me through this harsh condition.” James is encouraging us to go deeper. Ask  God for wisdom. “God, what am I to learn from this tough time. Why and how is this adversity a good thing for me?

We can see a progression of events in this passage that can lead to personal growth if we cooperate with God’s arrangement of circumstances for us.

Adversity => Testing => Cooperation – not resistance => Rejoice => Perseverance => Maturity (perfectly complete, needing nothing.)  So, someone says, “I’m not a perfectionist – I am perfect.” Not! But I believe as we walk with God daily, obedient and yielded, the sanctifying process develops us into becoming more like Christ who was/is the epitome of  perfection.
James seems to be saying that joy is available to the Christian no matter how severe the adversity. However, a word of caution. Don’t spiritualize the pain involved by quickly rejoicing. Allow yourself to feel the normal feelings when experiencing great trauma. Fear. Anger. Guilt. Whatever. Process those with God through prayer and sharing with another person you trust. Then, instead of focusing on the circumstances, look for the spiritual dynamics of trials. “Father, what are you wanting to do in my life  through  this  trial? Are  you  testing me in any way?”
Tomorrow's post: testing

An "Impossible" Directive - 7

"JOY" is another key word in our study of James 1.

Key word #2  Joy

            “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

 If one's goal is to become mature in Christ, and if that is a goal far higher and more valuable than merely avoiding hardships, or escaping from them, then indeed consider it joy when you meet the trials by which you attain that treasured goal.  Joy is an attitude choice no matter the circumstances because if one is walking with God, Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence is fullness of joy.

            “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

Dallas Willard in his book “Renovation of the Heart,” describes it so well. “Joy is a pervasive sense of delight in an encompassing good well-secured. For joy, all is well, even in the midst of specific suffering and loss. Self-sacrificial love is therefore always joyous – no matter  the pain and loss it may involve. For we are always looking at the larger scene in which love rules: Where all things (no matter what ) work together for good to  those who love God and are drawn into His purposeful actions on earth. Joy is a basic element of inner transformation into Christ-likeness and of  the outer life  that flows from it.”

            It has been said that joy is the finest of heart and mind tonics; it gives new jest to life; it is the song of  the heart.

            We’re not viewing  joy as a rah rah emotional  high. Joy feels different to different people.When I’m sensing God’s presence, my joy  feels more like contentment. Joy is available even when in adversity, not for adversity, but IN. If we were rejoicing for a hardship, that would be called “masochism” (deriving pleasure from being mistreated in some way).

 Consider it joy when you meet the trials by which you attain that treasured goal of completeness.. Though joy is a fruit of  he Spirit, it is our responsibility to  appropriate it and put it into action. Rejoice! We are called to joy – even in tough times.

An "Impossible" Directive - 6

Session 6 on James 1 directive to rejoice in tough times. We are looking at the sources of adversity, cocvering 1) our own doing;
2) God's discipline;
3) God's refining process; and today:

4. Satan – A Source for sorrow

            From First Peter 5 we read:  ⁸ Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

            And in Ephesians 6:10-18 we observe: A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we^[c] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

 ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere

            We don’t look for a demon under every bush, nor do ignore this ruler of the spirit world. For he seeks  to devour.and destroy us. At times the conflict can be severe.

 It happened when I was teaching a Bible class on the three most important issues in life – know God, know self; and know about the enemy. I was to teach the following day on knowing about satan. Here is the story:

            Saturday night, My first wife Ann and I were praying and singing  All of a sudden  her nose began to bleed – profusley. I couldn’t recall the last time she had a nose bleed. The bleeding wouldn’t stop. Rushed her to the hospital emergency. The doctor cauterized a vessel in her nose, saying it was probably a seasonal reaction. Drove the 25 miles back home. Got home and the bleeding started again. Ann said, “I never  have nose bleeds. Something is up.” As we talked and prayed it came to us that this could be a work of satan to discourage us in the teaching about him in the morning. We prayed against him and the bleeding stopped, never to return, ever.
            Satan can be a source of adversity personally  or as Christians desiring to share the Good News of Jesus, corporately. In business the best marketing plan is a happy and content consumer who spreads the word about the product’s virtues. So also with evangelism. Pre-christians respond more to the Living Word than the spoken word. A joy filled Christian who is expeirencing “trials and temptations of various kinds” is a powerful  witness in  the promotion of a walk with Christ. It is also a great threat to the opposition’s game plan, a plan described in the Ephesians 6 passage we just observed. Our warfare with the evil one.

            I believe that one of Satan’s greatest tools of weaponery is “entitlement“     “You don’t deserve what you’re going through. As a Christian you ought to have much better than that. You are being cheated.You deserve more.”

            If a person listens to that voice and the outcome is not the desired one the result is often discouragment, frustration and a squelching of the Holy Spirit’s work within. A marring of fellowship wth God.

            Satan’s victory. Our defeat, until repentance which leads to restoration of fellowship with God.
            Have a peek in my kitchen window. Insomnia has always been a problem for me, hightened now by Parkinson’s disease. I’ve commited this challenge to God. People have prayed for me. Zip. Nada. I searched the Scripture for answers. Many passages referred to sleep. LikePsalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. Proverbs 3:24 You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.
Psalm 91:1  Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
But the passage that hit my cynical button was Psalm 127:2. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.
            God gives rest to his loved ones. Does my lack of rest mean I’m not one of His loved ones?. I tried all the tricks proposed by man to get a good night’s sleep.. I  tried high powered sleep medication. It would work for a few days and back to the sleeplessness. I prayed. Nothing.  I became angry with God and grew cynical about prayer. My wife would want to pray for my sleep befor we would go to bed. I told her God wasn’t interested in my sleep. “Don’t waste your breath.” My frustration added to the sleep problem. Fellowship with God was at best fragile.
            After wrestling with this for years, I was finally able to give up the entitlement of a good sleep and accept the adversity. And now I’m working at the rejoicing challenge of James one.

            So, sources for adversity are self-induced, God’s discipline, God’s refining process, satan and just  the fact  that we live in a fallen world and manure happens.

An "Impossible" Directive - 5

To experience tough times periodicaly is normal. What isn't normal is James' directive to rejoice when going tfhrough adversity.This is the 5th segment of a study on James 1:2-8,12.We've obsesrved that causes of hardships can be our own doing or can be God's discipline. Today we look at another source from God - His refining prcocess.

3. God’s refining process can be a source of personal pain.

Job 23;10; But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Mal.3;3, He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify

 the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord

God’s way of  preparing us for a future ministry is “burning off our dross” through His refining process. What is dross? To  help answer  that look at Galatians 5:13-21  ” For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. ¹⁴ For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

 ¹⁶ “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

 ¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these (dross). Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Silver and gold dross is all the impurities in the ore in which the precioius metal is found. Used as  metaphor for us, dross is anything that hinders God’s working in and through us.Pride, self-effort, lack of discipline, resentment, etc. Just as  a smithy brings the metal to a liquid form through heat, watching the fire that it not  be too hot to destroy the metal, so also God watches our lives carefully and turns up sufficient heat to achieve greater purification for our own sake and for the sake of those to whom we’ll be influencing.

It  has been said that the goal of the silversmith or goldsmith is to fashion a precious metal until it is pure and shines bright. He heats and works with his metal until he can see his reflection in it. One can only imagine how the silver or gold feels about this arduous process. (I know, silver and gold can’t feel, but just bear with me on this one.)

Isa. 48:10 I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.   Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

Because God is sovereign – all powerful, he could have prevented  your misfortune and it is possible He caused it. For verification we look at three Scriptures.   (NLT)

·      Jonah 1:4 But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.

·      In Acts 17 we find Paul addressing  the leaders of Athens, describing God. “This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.  ²⁴ “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, ²⁵ and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. ²⁶ From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.  ²⁷ “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ For in him we live and move and exist.

·      Nahum 1:12 (NKJV)  Thus says the Lord: …Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Thus God, in His sovereignty can afflict us. “There is a limit to our affliction. God sends it. Then He removes it. Do you complain, saying, “When will this end?” May we quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the Lord til He comes. Our Father  takes away the rod when His purpose in using  it is fully accomplished.” (Spurgeon)

 Or God can cause a storm in our life (for our ultimate good) or He can rescue us out of the storm that He has allowed.

            God’s refining process – not plesant, but can be very productive if we cooperate with His work in our lives.

Tomorrow: Satan, a source of adversity.

An "Impossible" Directive - 4

Rejoice during personal tough times? We're trying to understand why and how James 1:2-8,12 can give us that directive and it not be masochism. Our fourth segment focuses on the different sources of adversity. Yesterday we saw how we can be one of the sources ourselves.
Continuing:

2. God’s discipline can be a source. The Bible tells us in Job 5:17, “But consider the joy of those

 corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.”

And in Hebrews 12:5-11   “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,  “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and don’t give up when he corrects you.  ⁶ For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”  ⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?^[g] 10. For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

No explanation needed here. Pretty straight forward.      How does God discipline you ?

Next post: God's refining process.

An "Impossible" Directive - 3

We are in a study series of James 1:2-8,12 trying to understand how and why we should rejoice in tough times.

Let’s look first at some key words in our study passage.

Key word #1:

WHEN, not IF

James 1:2 - Whenever (when) trouble comes. Not “if” but “when”. Life is at  times very harsh. Relational issues, financial setbacks, job problems, unemployment, disease, etc. There will be sorrows and disappointments that will test our faith. We all have our challenges – those issues for which  we wished  we did not have to contend. For me the challenges that stuttering and Parkinson’s Disease presents are at times seemingly unconquerable.. What is yours?

“When” adversity strikes. Not if. Let ‘s look first at various sources of challenging times.

1. Results of our own doing

A car wreck as a result of driving and drinking. Depression from unresolved emotional conflict. Any number of misfortunes can be pointed to ourselves as the precipitator. And for some, it is easier to place the blame elsewhere rather than  take personal responsibility. No leaning toward a grateful, rejoicing spirit.

This person ends up with a victim mentality No hope.Very little if any joy will be experienced.

Our next posting will indicate the part God plays in our adversities.
Again, if you  would like the 12 page study via email, let me know at rburwick@mindspring.com

An "Impossible" Directive - 2

The Dilemma        

Don’t the Scriptures that I posted yesterday sound like I’m to be ecstatic about the death of my wife – the death of my twin boy, the emotional pain of stuttering, the various negative and sometimes debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease?   When I observe our political system out of wack, or the economy going belly-up, or one of our loved ones wasting his/her life away, my response is to be joy? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING. Something is haywire here or there must be a reasonable explanation.

            I checked three different study Bibles for explanation of this passage. Not a word. “God, give us wisdom as we endeavor to make sense of this portion of Your Word.”

            First, this is  not an isolated portion of Scripture. A directive theme of gratitude and rejoicing  runs through much of the New Testament possibly highlighted by these four passages.

 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Romans 5:3-5  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

            Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice

            “Give thanks in all…. Give thanks for all….and always be joyful!”  Wow, that is beyond me. Is this for real NOW or is it a directive for that time. Let’s examine.

To Whom this is written

 To whom was James writing this letter? Verse one: “it is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations.” To fellow followers of Jesus. As followers of and believers in Jesus, the  principles apply to us today.

Let’s look first at some key words in our study passage. The first one is "when." We will look at that in our next posting. Remember, if you want the 12 page study in tact via email, let me know at rburwick@mindspring.com

An “Impossible” Directive

 A study of James 1:2-8, 12

One of the more perplexing passsages in Scripture is found in the first chapter of James… REJOICE WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING TOUGH TIMES. James is directing us to do something totally unnatural. The response to adversity is usually an emotion of fear, hurt, anger, sadness or frustration - not joy. Is James asking for  the impossible? I'll endeavor to post a portion of the study daily. If  you want an emnail copy of the complete study, let me know at rburwick@mindspring.com.

 Though it is a little lengthy, listed are three versions of the Bible, each giving perspective with a twist.

NLT  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 ⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ⁶ But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

 ¹² God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him

The Message: Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.  ^5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. ^9-.

 ¹²Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Amplified: Amplified Bible (AMP) ²Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.     ³Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.     ⁴But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

    ⁵If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.     ⁶Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.     ⁷For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,     ⁸[For being as he is a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides ¹²Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

 Next post is entitled "TheDilemma"