Renewed to Honor

          In the previous sermon, we learned that trials are not a punishment from an angry God but a means through which God disciplines his legitimate (adopted) Children. We saw how trials are meant for our Joy and how this is not a conceptional thing but rather an experiential journey. No one should assume that being joyful in trials is a means of knowledge acquired in any means other than personal experience. God expects us to come to Him and ask for wisdom. This is what the Spirit of God gives, wisdom. No one should assume that this wisdom is based on mental fortitude. This is based on a realisation that you are not strong enough, not wise enough on your own means. This is what trials does. It pushes people to be God dependent. This is what God desires us to do. To be reliant on Him. James as we looked earlier points to Proverbs and the Old testament as much as possible as His primary audience is the Jewish Christians.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart,     and do not lean

  When we go through trials and difficult times we are often faced with the following questions Does God really love me? Does God do His will for me? Is God's will for my life perfect? Will I like God's will for my life? Will God take the evil others have done to me and really turn it for my good? Will God repay the evil for the harm them did? James, writes his letter to the Jews who are Christians who ran away from Jerusalem during the time of troubles.   Notes:   (a)  James 1.3: List the different ways in which the trying of faith produces patience (ie: perseverance/endurance).  Faith is always tested - 1 Peter 1:7 and it is in the fire of testing that our faith becomes purer than gold worthy to honour God. A man of faith stands by the Word of God and waits for God to work and waits in patience.  During trying times, we may face the following questions  Is God there? Will God use what others meant for my evil for my good?  The Greek word for patience (hupomoné) also means