COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
SERMON NOTES - SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2025 - MR PHILIP ROBINSON
JAMES 1 VERSES 1 TO 4
https://youtu.be/Yb9jIR-kaHE?si=fOVe2RlSkguVfaVd
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41692565
In 2017 the BBC produced a programme titled True North: Crusaders - Keeping the Faith. It was a documentary following Crusaders Football Club chasing 3 titles through one season. It focused on 4 players - Sean O'Neill, Howard Beverland, Matthew Snoddy and Stephen Baxter. Each of these players had "trials" but as Christians they wanted to show how their faith in Christ helped at a crucial point in time. Stephen Baxter, the Team Manager had 13 members on his team who were known as the God Squad. They professed faith in Christ and the BBC followed them throughout the season.
Various passages in scripture show how people had faith in God through difficult times. We can think of the apostle Paul who faced many trial in his life - he was shipwrecked, beaten and in jail. Abraham's faith was tried when he was asked to offer his son on Mount Moriah. As Abraham was about to slay his son the Lord spoke from heaven and told him to look behind him and find a lamb caught in the thicket. That lamb would be offered in place of Isaac. God provided the perfect sacrifice. Noah was asked to build a boat because a flood was coming. He had faith that God would keep to his word. Hebrews chapter 11 is a great chapter on faith. There are two words that is repeated throughout the verses - "by faith".
The same is true of James chapter 1. As Christians we are always facing trials in our lives. Illness and death for instance. God is with us constantly through such times. We can take all our worries and fears to the foot of the cross. Remember the hymn "What a Friend we Have in Jesus"
All our sins and griefs to bear
what a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
James 1 is a general epistle - one of 7. There are 2 simple thoughts found in these verses.
Keeping our eyes on Christ in the trials and temptations of life - verse 2
Keeping a joyful heart when going through trials is difficult. More time than not we take our eyes off Christ. We can become distracted by what we are going through. "Count it joy" is a command we need to follow. Even when it is difficult to have joy as a Christian it is important to remember we have joy that this world can never give. Many are trying to find joy in different things today. For instance in houses and cars. It is not wrong to have that joy but it can only really be found in Christ. Stephen Nolan once produced a programme on different religions. He said "I have all I could ever want yet there is a void in my life I cannot fill." This world will one day pass away. We will not take any earthly possessions with us to the grave. But as Christians we can have joy in our hearts. There used to be a children's chorus that said "with Christ in the vessel I can smile at the storm." No matter what we are going through in life we can smile all the way knowing God will help us through those trials. We need to keep our eyes and hearts on God. How? By reading our bibles, spending time in prayer, meditating on what God is saying. These things will help us through our trials. Keeping our eyes on Christ is important. As we look around us today there is no good news. We can become distracted by what is going on in our world. What matters is that we are God's children. When we come against a trial we need to rely on God. Then it is even more important to have quiet times daily. God will help give us guidance through prayer and reading his word. James 4 verses 8 "draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you." The example is of Peter in Matthew 14 verse 22. Peter was in the boat when he saw Christ coming towards him. He steps out of the boat, had his eyes on the Saviour but as he begins to walk on water he took his eyes off Jesus. He became more worried about the sea around him and down below him. He began to sink. He took his eyes off the one who could save him from sinking. Christ reached down and lifted him up out of the water. There will be times when we take our eyes off Christ but he is always there to pick us up again and set our feet on the right path. Man's natural ability is to go on his own way but not God's. Whenever we come to trials we need help. We don't like asking for help, we want to do it ourselves. But we discover very quickly that we cannot go through life without Christ. Christ will guide us through life. Like the captain of a ship it is his job to guide us into the harbour. Christ helps and guides us through life's storms. Maybe you are going through a dark valley - keep your eyes on Christ. He will guide you. Christ pulls Peter up out of the sea and he will do the same for us. He will be with us through the storm. The word "divers" is used to mean different and varied trials. We all face many different situations but as the Amplified Version states "having nothing but joy in the trials." Whenever we are faced with the temptations and trials the devil throws at us keep our eyes on Christ.
Keeping our eyes on christ during trials and temptations - verse 3
The author is speaking from experience in these verses. Commentators tell us that James was killed for his faith. Many Christians today are meeting in bombed out buildings. In Nigeria thousands of Christian Churches have been burned down yet if you went to them today the believers still gather in the ruins. They are giving thanks to God. If we were put in that situation man of us would be complaining. Many cannot even open a bible in a church service. Trials help us grow close to God. Whatever we might be facing we need to spend time with God in reading his word and praying to him. 1 Peter 1 verses 6 and 7 and Romans 5 verses 3 and 4. In the darkest hour what ever trials and temptations we are going through you will learn patience as you wait on God. Sometimes we have to be patient and learn it. Some of us struggle with that. In verse 4 James is speaking of patience that God gives through trials. God has a plan for everyone of us. We can learn to have joy in trials. It is all part of God's plan. The trial will produce patience in our Christian walk. Let patient have her perfect work. God will guide us as we live here on earth. We are not perfect. Everyone of us will sin. There was only one who did not sin - the Lord Jesus himself. People think that as Christians, when we put our trust in God we are perfect but we are not. We will sin every day. It will only be when we get to heaven that everything will be made perfect. We can draw encouragement from Christ being with us through each trial. Keeping our eyes during the trial. Christ saved us from our sins. He died on the cross and can help us through trials. Reading God's word and praying to him. It can be hard to keep our eyes on Christ when we see what is going on in the world today. Knowing God will call us home to be with him in heaven one day keeps us going on. Having patience in the trial helps us to draw close to God. One day we will be made perfect completely. Can I encourage you if you are facing something in your life today to take it to God in prayer. Hebrews 12 verse 1. Have that faith even as a Christian. Know God is with you today.
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