Trying of Faith Worketh Patience - James 1:1-4

Trying of Faith Worketh Patience

(Faithway Sunday School Devotion 1/24/10)

Eld. Gerald L. Penton

James 1:1-4

James 1:1-4

(1) James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Trials

Trials are part of every day life. They come to us in many forms. Trials can be something as simple as a spilled glass of milk at breakfast to a fender-bender on the way to work, to the news of a tragic death or illness in our family. As a Christian, trials are placed in our life to test our reaction to them. I think when we understand trials, whether or not we understand the exact purpose of each trial, we can understand that God is working through them to perfect us. Lets take a look at the nature of trials so that we may better understand them.

Trials are Guaranteed

Notice first in verse two that trial are guaranteed. James says to us "when ye fall into". James doesn't say, 'you might fall into', or 'perhaps you will fall into'. He says, WHEN YE FALL INTO. A time isn't promised, a method isn't promised, a schedule isn't promised, but trials are! We can count on our faith being tried. It will happen sooner or later.

Trials should be received with Joy because they are the working of God

Secondly, and actually taken out of order, the first part of verse two says "count it all joy". When trials come, and they are coming, IF we receive them in joy, they will be easier to face. Why will they be easier to face? I think the answer to that question lies in the third and fourth points.

Trials bring Patience

The trials of our faith bring patience. Patience is a virtue that not many have in todays world of instant gratification. We are a microwave generation. I burned myself the other day popping popcorn. Someone asked me when they saw the burn how I had done it. I told them it happened on a pot while popping popcorn. This person was just astonished that I popped popcorn in a pot on the stove rather than in the microwave. Yes, it takes a little longer to accomplish, makes a little more of a mess to later clean up, but the popcorn, in my humble opinion, taste much better than microwave popcorn. What is the point you say? Some things are better when just a little more effort, time, patience, or hard work are applied to them. Some things only come to us in good time. Most of the time they only come to us in GOD's time.

Trials Perfect Us

Verse four says to us that the perfect work of patience make us perfect, entire, wanting nothing. When we patiently endure the trials that come our way, we can be molded into a useful vessel for the Heavenly Father.

I often look to Malachi 3:3 as it states: "he shall sit as a refiner of silver". A refiner of silver sits staring into a cauldron of molten silver, a skimmer in his hand, skimming away the dregs and impurities as they float to the top. What causes them to float to the top? Heat. The heating (trials) of the silver brings the impurities (sins) to the top and allows the refiner to remove them. As children of the Heavenly Father, we are silver, he is the heat, and our sins and imperfections are the dregs. He applies trials (heat) to our life so that our imperfections float to the top and we can be perfect. This refiner of silver is waiting until his image shines perfectly clear in the top of the boiling pot. When this is achieved, the silver is ready for casting. When the Heavenly Father's reflection shines in our life, we are ready to cast. Ready to be used for whatever purpose He needs to use us in.

Exhortations

In the future, look at your trials through the eyes of patience. Allow God to work in your heart. Allow him to skim the impurities and the dregs from your life. When we do this, it is then that we can be truly a vessel of honor in HIS kingdom.

My New CD

I have released a new Solo Gospel Recording! I hope that each track of this recording will be a blessing to everyone who hears.

Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

5 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Halves

12 oz Angel Hair Pasta

1 cap-full Zatarains Liquid Crab Boil

4- 6oz cans Tomato Sauce

3 Bell Peppers

2-3 tbsp Minced Garlic

1-1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1-1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Oregano

Basil

Bay Leaves

Boil the Chicken Breast in the Zatarains Crab Boil, Also Season the water with Oregano, Basil, and Bay Leaves. Once the chicken breast have cooked, remove from the stock. Remove the Bay Leaves from the stock. Cook spaghetti in the chicken stock, salt to taste. Drain (saving some chicken stock) and cool the angel hair pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process. Place the drained pasta in a 9x13 casserole dish. Dice the boiled chicken and place in sauce pan, add tomato sauce, season with Oregano, Basil, and Bay Leaves to taste. Simmer over medium heat. Chop three bell peppers and saute with garlic in olive oil. Add sauteed veggies to sauce. Pour sauce over the spaghetti and mix. You may need to add chicken chicken stock that you saved to fill the pan to near the top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 1 hours. Top liberally with shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Turn oven to broil and leave the casserole until the cheese is browned to a slight crust. Serves about 8.

This is an original recipe by Gerald Penton

Introduction

I was born the oldest child of Wyndell Jewel Penton and Angelia Nobles Penton. I am currently 32 years of age. I serve as Minister of Music and Associate Pastor of Stoney Point Missionary Baptist Church in Franklinton, LA.

I came to Stoney Point in August of 2006. The journey to this place of ministry was not an easy one but I am sure of this one that: That God placed me here! I am truly thankful for the leadership of God in my life and my only regret is that I haven't always followed God's will to the letter.

I was born November 30, 1977 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi at Forrest General Hospital. We have lived in Picayune, Hattiesburg, Bendale, and Ramsey Springs. My parents live in Ramsey Springs, in East Stone County, Mississippi to this day.

I remember well the first times I was convicted of sin. My grandfather, Eld. Curtis Nobles, was preaching a series of revival services at his home church, West Black Creek Baptist Church, just west of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I am not sure now just which service in this morning and night revival that I begin to be convicted of the fact that I was a sinner. I had never done anything seriously wrong. Of course, I had been disobedient to my parents . Most definately, I had entertained thoughts that were sinful. I became convinced that without trusting Jesus as my Savior, I wouldn't be able to live in Heaven when my time on this earth should end.

The following week, our home church, Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, in the Big Level Community, about 7 miles east of Wiggins, Elder Bennett Lowery was preaching a week-long revival. On Tuesday evening, I was so convicted of my sin that upon arriving home and later going to bed, I asked God to save me. That night, I was given an assurance that I still have today some almost 21 years later.

I am thankful for Jesus who died to save me. I am thankful that He keeps me. I am thankful that He will take me to Heaven to live with Him in the last day. I plan to write more of my experiences and journey through ministry. Other times, I will write about Bible subjects. Other times, it may be just general ramblings.