Distinguish
the different types of the Christian sufferings....
1.
TEMPTATION....This is a solicitation to do evil, and comes from
Satan.-.V 13-14
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
2.
TRIALS....This is a trial or testing of our faith and comes from
God....V 2-5
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
3. TONGUE LASHING....This is to tear you down and comes from
society....I Pet 4:14
1 Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
4. THORN
IN THE FLESH....This is where the Lord takes a messenger
of Satan and puts it in your flesh to keep you from becoming exalted
with pride....II Cor 12:7
II
Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
I. THE PURPOSE OF OUR SUFFERINGS... .James 1:1-5
A. Develop your Patience....V 3
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
B. Develop your Perfection.... V
4
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
C. Develop your Praying....V 5
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
II. THE PROGRAM OF OUR SUFFERINGS... James 1: & 2:
A.
The test of RESPONSE.... James 1:22-25
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
B. The test of RELIGION....James 1:26-27
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
C. The test of RESPECT....James 2:1-10
James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
James 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
James 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
James 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
James 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
D. The test of REALITY.-.James 2:14-20
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
III.
THE PATTERN FOR US IN SUFFERING.... I Pet 2:19-24
A. His Sinless Character.... V 22
1 Pet 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
B. His Self-control....V 23a
1 Pet 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered,
C. His Solemn Commitment....V23b
1
Pet. 2:23b ...he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
D. His Substitutional Cross.... V 24
1 Pet 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
IV. THE PROFITS OF OUR SUFFERINGS....I Pet 4:12-16
A. Partakers with Christ....V 12-13
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
B. Promised a Crown....V 13b
1
Pet. 4:13b....when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
C. Purified like Christ....I Pet 1:6-7
1 Pet 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Thank
God we have the promise,
"If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him...."
2 Tim 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2 Tim 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
