Hello, dear neighbor. Thank you for joining us once again as we look at trials, testing the temptations of life in the book of James in chapter number one.

“Remember James, the half-brother of Jesus, he, along with that church in Jerusalem, has gone through some trials. They’ve gone through some testings. In fact, he’s writing to those Christians, those believers, the church that has been dispersed and scattered abroad because of persecution. And so he’s writing to them, and he says, ‘count it all joy.’ Really, Pastor James? Count it all joy? When I fall into diverse temptations?”

“Yes,” he says, “you can count it all joy.” Peter says it this way in 1 Peter 4.12, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you.” He’s telling us it’s going to come. Prepare, dear friend. Then Peter goes on to say, “but rejoice,” he echoes what James is saying, “but rejoice in as much as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

“Really, Brother Peter? Really, Pastor James? Count it joy? How can I count it joy?”

“Well,” he says, “those testings, those trials are not sent by a father who is wanting to punish, who is wanting to hurt you, who is wanting to harm you. He’s sending them to test and try your faith, and then to give you patience. Let patience have its perfect work.”

“That trial, that temptation, can I encourage you, dear friend, every one of us have them. They’re universal, they’re inevitable, and they’re unexpected. But then James and Peter tell us, you can still have some joy when you’re going through those trials. I can’t tell you what you’re going to face. I don’t know what you perhaps are facing at this time, but can we just be comforted by the words of Pastor Peter and Pastor James writing to that persecuted church, ‘count it all joy.’ God bless you, dear friend, and I trust that you’ll have a wonderful day in the Lord today.”

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David Sloan

David Sloan, Spanish Pastor

David Sloan serves as pastor of the Spanish Department of North Valley Baptist Church. He and his family were missionaries in the Former Soviet Union and the Middle East, where he served as United States representative to the Christian Caucus in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. He and his wife Jolene have five children. Bro. Sloan is part of a missionary heritage of fourteen families who serve on the mission field, spanning seven countries and four continents. He is also the Missions Director at Golden State Baptist College.