Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We continue our study of James 1:2-8. The previous email examined James 1:2 where we learned the Holy Spirit instructs us, through James, we are to be joyful when we are beset by trials in this life (there will be no trials in the life to come). I mentioned this verse, for years, made no sense to me, and I couldn’t see how a loving Father could say such a thing. For years church had taught me “to hang on until the end when I would be rewarded in Heaven.” While this teaching is partially true, it is not The Truth. Let’s examine James 1:3 this week to understand how our Father could instruct us to “Count or esteem trials all joy.”
James 1:3
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
“Knowing” is the Greek word “ginosko,” which means “to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance).”
“Trying” is the Greek word “dokimion,” which means “what is found approved (genuine) after testing, focusing on the inevitable results of this.”
“Faith” is the Greek word “pistis,” which means “persuasion (be fully persuaded, come to trust). A deeper definition of “faith” is “The root of pistis (“faith”) is peithô (“to persuade, be persuaded”) which supplies the core-meaning of faith (“divine persuasion”). It is God’s warranty that guarantees the fulfillment of the revelation He births within the receptive believer (I Jn 5:4 with Heb 11:1).
“Worketh” is the Greek word “katergazomai,” which means “work down to the end-point, i.e., to an exact, definite conclusion (note the prefix, katá); bring to decisive finality (end-conclusion).”
“Patience” is the Greek word “hupomoné,” which means “remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to “remain (endure) under” the challenges.”
For me, the effect of looking at the Greek words and understanding each enables me to summarize the Holy Spirit is teaching us, through James, “through personal experience we know Godly endurance concludes with the result of our full persuasion.” What personal experience? Our experience going through trials. Trials, temptations, etc. are going to come no matter what. How do we want to face them? With the knowledge and wisdom of the world? Or with the knowledge and wisdom of God? One thing is clear from both The Word of God and from experience, there are a bunch of ways to address trials, temptations, challenges, etc. But there is only ONE WAY without adding sorrow, pain, labor, toil, anxiety, and fear to it. By confessing, believing, and receiving the promises of God which are ONLY found in His Word.
What will we be fully persuaded of by having Godly endurance? That God keeps His promises, and we see His promises manifest for us in the physical realm. Too many Believers give up and quit believing for a promise of God because it doesn’t happen immediately, that day, the next day, that week, that month. We must learn that like anything in nature, there is a growth process. We have to grow in faith and rid ourselves of unbelief. Romans 12:3 tells us God has given EVERY man or woman that calls upon Jesus as their Savior THE MEASURE of faith – not a measure of faith. This means Paul, John, Peter, Billy Graham, etc., didn’t receive any more faith than God gave to us when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and King. “The” is a definite article. Everyone that calls upon the name of Jesus for salvation receives “the” measure of faith.
Can faith and unbelief coexist in a Believer? Absolutely. You see it many times in the Scriptures, especially among the disciples. We have faith that Jesus can do what He says He can do in the Scriptures. We just don’t believe we can do it, or it will be done for us. That’s unbelief. How do we rid ourselves of unbelief? Very simple, but it takes practice – just like anything takes practice.
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
If we will believe and do what Joshua 1:8 tells us to do, we will experience Romans 10:17. We MUST meditate the Word of God over and over again. I’m talking about meditating a verse or verses that pertains to your situation, your challenge, your trial, your temptation. Meditate means “to mutter, to chew on, to contemplate.”
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God tells us faith comes by hearing. Hearing what? The verse or verses, over and over again, that pertains to our particular situation. The more we hear ourselves or others speak the verses, the more we contemplate and chew on the verses, the more God’s measure of faith grows in us. We can liken this to a glass filled with water, which represents the measure of God’s faith in us. In this same glass is dirt, which represents unbelief. How do you rid the glass of the dirt? What if we continue to pour water into the glass until the dirt is eventually flushed out? Yes, this is how it happens in our lives. We must continually pour God’s Word into us to eventually flush out the unbelief. Sisters and Brothers, this IS THE ONLY WAY it will work. Notice what God says in Joshua 1:8 will be the result of meditating in His Word. Yes, and I love this promise: “For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.” Joshua 1:8 is the foolproof, time tested, absolute guaranteed blueprint for prosperity (spiritual, physical, material, financial) and good success (God’s favor and good understanding).
Next week we’ll review James 1:4 and see the promise of God for counting it all joy and staying in faith until God’s promise manifests from the spiritual realm to the physical realm. Believe me, it happens. I’ve personally experienced it as have many other Believers who don’t quit and get into unbelief. But it takes practice. Be committed to the practice and reap the many joys of God’s blessings here on earth the way God meant for us.
Walk Mighty in the Anointing of Jesus Christ!
Larry