“… KNOW that the testing of your faith PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE.{Steadfastness}. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be MATURE and complete, not lacking anything.”-{James 1:3-4}.

 

The word “KNOW” is a command and has to do with an “understanding mind.” The Greek literally reads “Because you know.” Know that God is working. Knowing that God is Sovereign over every trial, for if He is not then how could it be said that He is “producing” these things! And as revealed in the passage He has a purpose He is working out in these trials! As difficult as the trial you may be in there is comfort knowing God is in control and God has and is working His purpose out. He is not out to destroy you but develop you and this verse says He wants you to “know” He is producing “Perseverance” in you and also to spiritually “mature” you. “Perseverance” or “endurance” is not a sitting down in defeat, it’s more than simply putting up with them, but spiritual tenacity, a facing them and mastering them like a wrestler who pins his or her opponent to the mat. The spiritual fight is real, but the victory “In Christ” is assured and total! It sees beyond the pain, difficulty, opposition, to God’s goal, God’s end. And in submission to Him and His Word, it will be produced, just as He said!

DISOBEDIENT TO HIS WORD;

Don’t cut short the process by compromising or disobeying His principles from His Word.

 

DISTORTED VIEW OF GOD;

Sometimes the length of a trial can be hard to bear and we become weary, but it often reveals to us concerning the false concepts we have about God as seen in David’s life in Psalm 13. In the first two verses four times he asks”how long,” the length of the trial was getting to him and it revealed his false concept about God as he falsely believed the LORD had forgotten and abandoned him. He had not. The disciples in the storm said, “Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”-{Mark 4;38}. Sometimes trials can reveal a distorted view we have about God.

DO NOT BE DEFEATED;

Do not be defeated by trials but “know” God uses them as His means in process to bring about His purpose of perseverance and maturity!

 Those who “endure” are those who continue to do what is right in God’s sight amidst the difficulties and crushing blows of life.

 

DISCERNING ACCURATELY THROUGH HIS WORD;

And God does not want those in trials to be uninformed as if flying without instruments to inform the pilot as he or she goes through a storm. God gives us His Word so that we are are not ignorant of what He is doing in our trials, whatever they may be, which includes proving the genuineness of our faith, producing endurance and spiritually maturing us into the image of Christ! Paul’s heart desire was also the spiritual maturity of the Galatian believers, ” Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.”-{Gal 4;19 NLT} And God uses trials as one means to bringing about that spiritual maturity, development. So you “know” what He is doing! At times it can be so difficult,with emotions going through various stages, and the temptation to trust what you “feel” or don’t “feel,” to fall back and lean on your own understanding rather than trusting, relying upon the LORD in the difficult, painful trial. Proverbs 3;5-6 tells us to trust in the LORD and commands us to do not lean to our own understanding. Like the pilot who going through a storm has to trust the instruments so we too must trust what God has given us, His Word, to guide us successfully which is to trust and obey Him in the trial by committing ourselves whole-heartedly, submitting to Him and His Word in the trials.

Morris says that the word,”perseverance, endurance” is the Greek word “hupomone is the attitude of the soldier who in the thick of battle is not dismayed but fights on stoutly whatever the difficulties.” Trench says that “hupomone “does not mark merely endurance, or even patience, but the perseverance, the brave patience with which the Christian contends against the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him in his conflict with the inward and outward world.” He adds that hupomone is “that temper of spirit in which we accept God’s dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.”– (Trench, R. C. Synonyms of the New Testament).

Perseverance is motivated by love for Him who first loved us. – {Read Luke 10:27} and for His glory, “whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God.”-{1 Cor 10:31; Luke 22:41-42; 1 Peter 4;8}. God grants us endurance.-{Read Romans 15:5}. In the trial the way we respond is much bigger than just us, “satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.”-{Job 2;4-5}… the accuser of the brethren said Job only followed God for what He would do for him, not out of love for Him because of who He is! Job’s trial is on display to the unseen realm as is yours and the issue of integrity is at stake. Trials are opportunity also to display loyalty and love to Him through perseverance,-{James 1:12.}

In James 1;-4, you don’t have to “guess” what is God doing. You can and are commanded to “know” this, “understand with your mind.” Here are two truths for you to “Know” today about your… trials! How kind we don’t have to “guess” or try “figure” out what is God doing…we “know!”

Here is the interesting point;

“…when you encounter various trials,”-{v2}. “Various” speaks of trials of all types. We are not told that it is a specific trial that we are COMMANDED to “KNOW” with an “UNDERSTANDING mind.” So whatever the trial you can “know” for certainty that God is producing “perseverance” and “mature” you. No matter what the trial God has this in mind for… you… me… and His desire, command is we …”Know.” How kind He is to let us “Know” two of His objectives!

We may not “know” all but we do “know” and are to “understand with our mind” God is working perseverance and spiritual maturity in you, me,… and for this reason we can obey the command in the previous verse to “count it all joy”… why? Because of what We “KNOW!’ How do we “KNOW with CERTAINTY?” Because God has revealed it…in His Word!

So often we can give our “opinion” as though it is “factual,” or we have as some say “a word from the Lord,” that over-rides His revealed Word, which defames His Name using it in a way that dishonors Him and dishonest, and not true of Him. Also as a result it can do damage to the one in trials as it is not based on What He says but what we think,”feel.” If our thinking is not been renewed on HIS Truth, so as to think as He “thinks” as revealed in His Word. “Our opinion” is just that…”our” and not His Word. One reason we hide His Word in our heart is not only to know Him, to learn to trust Him but also to help…others. “ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”-{Col 3:16}.

“KNOW” with certainty what He says, otherwise we can end up like one of Job’s “friends!”

Based on His Word what is it God commands you to “Know,” to have an “understanding mind?”

What are the Two Things God is doing in your Trials?

Hide these verses in your heart so you can share with someone else what God wants them to “Know” in their trials with certainty, because His Word says it is so!

Be encouraged, God intends Good to come out of your trials for you and also for…others! Trials can be intense, various, not easy but look to the end of what God’s desire is to produce namely perseverance and spiritually mature you!