Video Talk
Note: When I do these video talks normally, as a general
rule, they are not scripted. I just share the Scripture and then what the Lord
is teaching me through it on the spot. And I don’t remember everything I said
in the video when I get finished recording, so when I write a summation of what
was said in the video here, it may not be exactly everything I said in the
video and the Lord may give me more to say here. So, just letting you know that
these summations may not match word for word what is said in the videos.
James 1:2-4 ESV
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
All people have trials. It is because we live in flesh
bodies and we live on this earth, and so we are all going to suffer something
or other at some time or another, especially if we live very long. But as
followers of Jesus Christ our trials have a purpose, and sometimes they are
because we are being persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
But our trials test our faith to see if it is genuine, which
is for our benefit, since God already knows the results. And that testing of
our faith is for the purpose that it might produce within us steadfastness of
faith so that we might be whole (mature) and complete in Christ and reach
maturity in our walks of faith. For that is the goal to make us holy, and to
make us more like Jesus, and to strengthen us in our walks of faith so that we
can endure trials and so that we can grow to mature walks of faith in our Lord.
But we may not all have the same trials, especially if we
live in different countries. Like for instance, persecution of us Christians is
a trial, but the way some Christians are persecuted in some countries is
probably not exactly the same as persecution is for us who live in America. For
in America we are not generally beaten and arrested and put to death for our
faith in Jesus Christ. But we who are following Jesus with our lives are being
persecuted in many of the same ways Jesus was prior to his arrest and his death
on that cross, and by many of the same types of people.
James 1:12 ESV
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
Now I am going to refer back to verse 4 here because it ties
in with verse 12. I looked up the word “perfect” on biblehub.com, on their
interlinear, and now I have a new understanding of the message in verse 4. This
is really talking about the end goal of our faith, the “consummated goal,” like
when the Jewish groom has now prepared the place for his bride and he comes to
get her and to take her to be with him, which is when their marriage is
consummated.
And this parallels over to our salvation. For we are saved
(past), we are being saved (present active), and we will be saved (future) when
Jesus Christ (our husband/groom) returns for us, his bride, and he takes us to
be with him in the place he has prepared for us, which is when our marriage to
him is consummated and our salvation is complete. So, in verse 4 when it speaks
of steadfastness having its full effect, that we may be perfect and complete,
it is talking about the end goal of our faith.
And this ties in with verse 12 because it tells us that we
are blessed of God who remain steadfast under trial, for when we have stood the
test we will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who
love him. Again, this is the end goal of our faith. And please know that those
who love him are those who obey him, and if we do not obey him we do not love
him and we do not know him and we do NOT have eternal life in him. So obedience
to our Lord is part of believing faith which saves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW27iANQb9M
Wait!
An
Original Work / February 8, 2014
Wait for your Lord. Be of courage.
Be strong and take heart today.
God is always watching o’er you.
Trust Him with your life always.
Sing of your Lord. Praise His blessings.
Believe in His sovereignty.
He delivered you from your sin;
Gave you life eternally.
Rest in your Lord. Know His promise.
Beneath His wings rest secure.
Your God has a plan and purpose.
Let your faith in Him endure.
Trust in your Lord. He’ll not leave you,
Because He is faithfulness.
He will lead and guide; protect you.
In His love you can find rest.
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