I thought that Pastor Nelson’s comments about James 1:2-4 were very helpful and believe that others will too:
James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Highlights of his presentation:
- When we inevitably face trials, pain, problems… in life, we can find joy in the promises and presence of God
- When a Jesus follower faces trials of various kinds with the joy-worthy knowledge that God is with them; and His promises of eternal love, care, protection and life are guaranteed to them
- No matter what trial they face, that testing of their faith will produce steadfastness AS they cling to Jesus
- This means, the more we experience God’s presence and rely upon His promises when facing trials, the more our faith is exercised
- Faith, like muscles, grows in strength when it is exercised
- Therefore, one will become able to face more difficult trials and will begin experiencing more joy
- He has promised that He will never leave you
In light of the above brief video on How to face trials in life and find joy, by Bible Munch, read the following brief exhortation of Jesus to Peter, James and John.
I looked up the following verse after reading that chapter today, and I had downloaded Pastor Nelson’s short video to post this week. His words helped me better understand part of the commentary below on Matthew 26:41.
The underscored area below, highlights natural responses, fleshly responses that cause one to enter into temptation.
If one is trusting in Christ, then there will be some believing of His promises by faith and standing in obedience instead of entering into temptation, running from God’s testing of you to prove your faith….
FROM THE COMMENTARY: Albert Barnes, Notes On The Bible:
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Watch – See Mat_26:38. Greater trials are coming on. It is necessary, therefore, still to be on your guard.
And pray – Seek aid from God by supplication, in view of the thickening calamities.
That ye enter not into temptation – That ye be not overcome and oppressed with these trials of your faith so as to deny me. The word “temptation” here properly means what would test their faith in the approaching calamities – in his rejection and death. It would “try” their faith, because, though they believed that he was the Messiah, they were not very clearly aware of the necessity of his death, and they did not fully understand that he was to rise again. They had cherished the belief that he was to establish a kingdom “while he lived.” When they should see him, therefore, rejected, tried, crucified, dead – when they should see him submit to all this as if he had not power to deliver himself – “then” would be the trial of their faith; and, in view of that, he exhorted them to pray that they might not so enter temptation as to be overcome by it and fall.
The spirit indeed is willing … – The mind, the heart is ready and disposed to bear these trials, but the “flesh,” the natural feelings, through the fear of danger, is weak, and will be likely to lead you astray when the trial comes. Though you may have strong faith, and believe now that you will not deny me, yet human nature is weak, and shrinks at trials, and you should therefore seek strength from on high. This was intended to excite them, notwithstanding he knew that they loved him, to be on their guard, lest the weakness of human nature should be insufficient to sustain them in the hour of their temptation.
End commentary
So, if you notice that you are running from trials; compromising; consistently miserably failing by falling into sin… then you can be sure that you are trusting your fleshly strength and not trusting Christ and His promises by faith.
Are you feeling discouraged? Are you lacking joy? There is hope! James 1:2-4 explains how to face trials in life and how to find joy! Finding peace in pain and the secret of joy is available to everyone, no matter you’re going through. What does James 1:2-4 mean? Find our in this Bible Munch Bible devotional / Bible study with Pastor Nelson.