James
Crown of Life
There is a promise to the person who perseveres
A promise of a Crown of Life
According to this word in the Greek
This is more than a covering on the head
It is a badge of royalty,
It is like a prize to a winner of a race
A symbol of honor
This crown describes the person wearing it
A person who does not give up, a person who runs with integrity
A person who finishes
So what brings joy to you?
What brings pride to you?
What brings blessing to you?
If it is faithfulness to Jesus Christ and His righteousness
Than trials and testing will not keep you from
Joy, Pride and Blessing
This is the Crown of Life
Crown of Life
James wants you and I to know we can live
life to the full even when times are bad.
Verse 2 tells us how to have joy in trials…
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds”
Verse 9 tells us how to keep our pride.
“The brother in humble circumstances
ought to take pride in his high position.”
Verse 12 tells us how to be blessed…
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial”
2020 in the world has been a trial of pandemic.
2020 in America has also been
a year of hatred and riots.
The trials we are facing may be the
greatest you and I have ever seen…
But not the greatest the world has ever seen.
Pandemics, hatred and riots
are nothing new in this world.
As a historical book, the Bible revealing suffering
and pain from beginning to end of life on earth.
Peter echoes the same things as James.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you
1 Peter 4:12 KJV
Peter also tells us we do not have to give
up our joy or a full life because of bad times…
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:13 KJV
So don’t think it strange when
trials like 2020 come upon us.
I do not want to minimize the terrible condition
of things and neither did James or Peter.
Things are BAD!!!
BUT…
The believer, the child of God, can and
should still live with Joy, Pride and Blessing.
The believer should always live life to the full.
This does not mean you ignore
the storm and go out to play.
What it means is we do not give
up on the truth of God’s Word.
We may need to take a stand like
Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-18…
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can
take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes,
you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13
James says…
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,
because when he has stood the test,
he will receive the crown of life that God
has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
The blessed person is the one who never gives up.
You always stand.
You stand for one thing Jesus
Christ and His righteousness.
Because your hope is in the
promise of Christ return.
Your hope is not a temporary fix but a new
heaven and new earth when in dwells righteousness.
But in keeping with his promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth,
the home of righteousness.
2 Peter 3:13
There is a promise to the person who perseveres.
A promise of a Crown of Life.
According to this word in the Greek.
This is more than a covering on the head.
It is a badge of royalty.
It is like a prize to a winner of a race.
A symbol of honor.
This crown describes the person wearing it.
A person who does not give up,
a person who runs with integrity.
A person who finishes.
So what brings joy to you?
What brings pride to you?
What brings blessing to you?
If it is faithfulness to Jesus Christ and His
righteousness than trials and testing will
not keep you from Joy, Pride and Blessing.
This is the Crown of Life.
Scripture Reading
James 1:2-12 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
